The facts as Trucker To Trucker has been able to determine would seem to indicate that the thinking is out there about the possibility. Perhaps still in its infant stages, but nevertheless it seems like it could grow beyond truck stop talk.

The issues for truckers are long hours, separation from family, substandard pay, inadequate benefits, increased living costs and the failure of many in the industry to address those realities. Truck safety standards are being raised from already high levels, which is a good thing, but the cost of maintenance and the time it takes to insure the proper level of safety has also risen. Mexican trucks being welcomed in the United States is not a positive addition to the already challenged trucker.

The price of fuel has increased exponentially over the last several months and oil companies, transportation companies, brokers and others all seem to be recouping their costs plus profit while the trucker continues to be squeezed from all sides as a producer delivering the goods and as a consumer attempting to support a family. The profit pie does not seem like it is being divided fairly.

Brokers never reveal their individual truckload profits, but few are going out of business, while many independent truckers and small companies are struggling to make ends meet.

Certainly there are a number of current issues that are the cause of angst, concern and frustration by drivers which might result in some sort of strike or boycott.

The question is – what exactly are the goals and what remedy is available for truckers. Who would represent the truckers? To borrow a line from past government policies – what is the exit strategy? How would one know if the goal was accomplished?

Enough is Enough. Now that the average price of diesel exceeds $4 a gallon, It is past time to shutdown. With the slowing economy, meaning loss of frieght, Everyone is raising prices, except money to the trucks. Brokers are taking a larger share, because they can get away with it, and to also maintain the bottom line. Oil companies are reporting record profits, even after reporting record re-investment in exploration and development. Comodities we need and buy everyday are going up. Blamed on the extra cost of transportation. But where is that "Extra" money going? Not to the trucks, but to the middlemen that are pocketing it. Yes it is price and demand, and right now there is more trucks than freight in most parts of the country.
The feds want ALL trucks to drive legally and be properly maintained. With everyone taking to much of the pie, trucks are getting the left overs. And personally, it isn't enough to Drive legally, maintain my truck, and provide for my family. A national shutdown of ALL trucks is long overdue.
Shippers are saying that they are paying a large fuel surcharge, and it's not making it to the truck. Since government does not want to regulate trucking, or brokers, this leaves trucks on the fence.
Disclosure, not regulations, would help. If Brokers had to disclose what the load paid, and how much of that was going to the truck, We would be in a better position to make a good business decision.
Just my two cents, Shoestring.

Posted by
shoestring1
on March 18, 2008 at 12:39 PM

I have been saying that we needed to do this for 2 years when fuel prices topped 2 bucks. Yet truckers still have not figured out how to use a calculator. If you are too stupid to realize your fuel costs are eating over 60 percent of your gross income, then you should be tired and Bankrupt. I parked my truck 3 weeks ago. No sense in workinbg all week and being broke and tired on Friday. When all the smart guys who are constantly cutting throats realize they are TOAST, then we can have an effective strike. With various dates being spread around, I belive April 1st is plenty of time. I think there will be a lot of trucks parked in GA before then. Those still riding will do so at their own peril. I am not taking this laying down. If you work while I fight for my survival and yours, then don't bitch when you have to pick your teeth up off the ground. Park them NOW.

Captdash, I don't support the violence you seem to be advocating. April 1st is not enough time to get the word out to have an effective strike. May 1st has been the called for date for this very reason. Time to get the word spread. Your frustrations are definately ringing through. The same pain shared by all. Accomplishing this boycott May 1st using comunication and education, not violence, will have a POSITIVE effect. Violence will only distance those who might help from the cause..
Think about it, but spread the word. May 1st for one week.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 18, 2008 at 9:11 PM

I just wanted to say that I have to agree with Captdash. May 1st is just to far off. Most of the trucking industry will be broke by then. We have to stop now. If we work ourselves to the point of being totally broke what are we accomplishing. Why not stop now and spread the word as we go. Why can't we start the strike now and the goal be for everyone to be parked by May 1st. Why should we run another month and put more money in the gas compaines pockets. Shut down now and make your stand. One by one others will follow. And who is to say that one week is going to be long enough. The trukcers need to be prepared to shut down for however long it takes. If the word gets out to the wrong people that we are going to shut down for one week starting May 1st, that gives them plenty of time to plan ahead. Why would they pay us any attention. They figure its only a week, so they stock up til the truck drivers come back to work next Monday! They need to know that we mean business and will remain parked til something is done.

Posted by
brandit
on March 19, 2008 at 4:09 AM

Shoestring1 let us know as soon as possible how to brand this, "Enough is Enough", MayDay, Truckers Boycott? And for anyone that can do a video, that would really help this spread fast. We're here to help...

Hello,
I would like all O/Os to join me on APRIL 1, 2008 to shutdown, or park your truck for the day. I know a lot of guys are saying they cant afford to shutdown, well boys & girls, the SAD TRUTH is you can not afford , NOT TO SHUT DOWN. unless you are a major player, & have 2000 plus trucks in your fleet.
By shut'n down for that day, we as a hole will show people in Washington DC that we are united in this stand.
The plain truth is outfits like OOIDA & The ATA dont give a damn about us, they seem to only care about how good they look in the Fed Goverments eyes.
I know for a fact that my co. is through hauling untill this thing is straightened out.
If you support my stand on this then please do the following 3 things
1# Tell Everyone you know & post on every blog you can that you are & will support this shutdown
2# send me an email telling me your views on this
my email is dlittle@uscattlehaulers.com
3# April 1, 2008 Simply Shut Down
This action will only work if we have large numbers involved in the Shutdown
Washington DC will HAVE to at least look at the issues we are face'n
This is an Election Year, use it to your advantage, let Washington know what you feel & how hard we have it right now
Thank You
Dan Little

I tried to contact the Obama Camp but received a canned response, so far...
"Dear Jim,
Thank you for contacting Obama for America. The volume of messages we’re receiving has gone up since Barack’s victory in Iowa. While we cannot respond individually to over a thousand messages per day, the level of interest and thoughtfulness of the comments reflected in these communications are very gratifying. Your thoughts on our campaign and America's future are greatly appreciated.
Individual citizens like you are the foundation of this campaign."

Looks like this thing is getting legs - will have to be massive to have any effect though.

Posted by
georgewilkins
on March 19, 2008 at 10:38 AM

It needs to start with the tankers. If the gas/fuel can't make it to the pumps, the rest of the country stops, too. I just hope when the time comes, we can afford to stop with everyone. I know it sounds stupid, but we are raising a family living paycheck to paycheck. No time is a good time for a strike, but we have to do something.

Posted by
truckerwife
on March 19, 2008 at 12:11 PM

Dlittle, sad part is, you won't be able to get the word out by april 1st. I agree, the sooner the better, but it also have as many trucks involved as possible. Read an article this morning about Iowa truckers are striking on the first, and another blog about GA truckers are already striking (started Monday?). The point is, while these two might bring some attention out, it won't even compare to what the National Boycott Enough is Enough will do starting May 1st. That is still over 5 weeks away. Plenty of time to get the word out. Rather than muddle up the timing by introducing conflicting dates, How about you just help spread the WORD!
Enough is Enough. Truckers Boycott May 1st-8th.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 19, 2008 at 12:35 PM

If I may add, you are all right we need to set a date, make this site STRIKECENTRAL, have one spokesperson, outline the issues and all agree on, I think SHOESTRING has that dead on and lastly we have to be PROFFESIONALS no stupid stuff...
As this grows we can organize as we go, I don't need to tell you this is going to be a mass effort with lots of support from everybody, we need to have one flyer posted as a PDM so that of us that have computers can down load the a copy to reproduce to spread the word of our effort.
Also we need to look at the legalities and the ANTI-TRUST issue.
Also, what do you guys think about as we get things organized we start out with a slow down, I have all ready started myself, just trying to save fuel. Again no stupid stuff don't block traffic or piss anyone off, just back um down to 60 mph that alone will get some attention

Posted by
charles miller
on March 19, 2008 at 1:58 PM

I ran out of room...But I wanted to add, for the guys that think this won't work without the BIGSHOT companies, thats BS, thats what they want us to believe, this thinking is old hat.
I read a report by FDOT Trucking STATS. (goggle it) there are approx. 600,000 trucking co. in the country, 90% are made up of 25 trucks or less, another figure I read in an artical said there's 3.4 million truckers out here...WoW thats some power......LETS GO BOYS AND GIRLS>>>THERES BETTER DAYS AHEAD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Posted by
charles miller
on March 19, 2008 at 2:19 PM

Right on Charles and all!
To make this go viral, we're going to need as many writings/rants as possible. Anyone that can write a post about "why this shutdown has to happen", write it and send it to me. If anyone see's signs about it and has a camera, take pictures, send them to me and I'll help distribute them properly. The biggie is if any of you can do a video about "why this shutdown needs to happen", a video will really help kick this off. Again, send me anything and I'll do the distribution.
THERES BETTER DAYS AHEAD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
jim@truckertotrucker.com

I will send anyone the flyer I have been passing out. Just email me. Busy tonight but at some time soon I will email this sight one, and possibly they can make it avail to download.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 19, 2008 at 7:32 PM

We haul local, demo & trash, out of ATL. They're talking datewise here 4/3. I agree that 5/1 gives more time. Can we survive until then? We need to get solid on a day. May Day is fitting but how many will go under by then? We are being raped by our own government. DO YOU FEEL VIOLATED YET???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by
Michele
on March 19, 2008 at 8:55 PM

I'm probably going to take some flak for this, but please re-read what I say before balling me out....
Government regulation of the brokers (or anything) is bad and it won't help anything. Why? because it will mean you will get an even smaller cut of the pie as the real money gets paid to the broker under the table. Think about it. If they are dishonest enough now, how dishonest will they be then? Also, do we really want our free enterprise system replaced by a government-sponsored economy? That is the economic definition of Socialism/Communism. Have I got your attention yet? If I don't then this will... You and I don't have any right to know what a broker makes on a load. It's none of our business any more that it's the banks business we have a truck loan with to know what we made on our loads this week. We also don't have a right to demand lower fuel prices, but we do have a right NOT to drive and use fuel. I have more to say in the next post, but this is enough for now, except that unless there are clear and intelligent reasons (goals) to accomplish and enumerated for a shutdown nothing will be accomplished except paving the way for the mass influx of mexican drivers and violence is never the answer. BTW - for the driver that stated if someone drives on shutdown day that he won't be responsible if you have to pick your teeth up off the pavement... be careful that some mortician doesn't have to dig a lead projectile out of your chest in response. It's not the same out there anymore since the new generation of "gangsta" drivers has emerged on the scene. Something to think about.
Enough is enough... but what are the legal, business-sensible and intelligent goals?

Google or YouTube "ZeitgeistTheMovie" and watch as much as you possibly can more than once until the real message siks in. Warning to you that it *IS* offensive (especially to Christians and Republicans), not for children and will make you mad, but it will answer some questions you can't even verbalize right now. The questions are those nagging feelings/thoughts that always causes you to scratch the back of your neck wondering that it all doesn't add up. Eventhough it is very offensive, please see it all the way through and be careful to not miss the point of how it applies to the present plight of the truck driver. Personally, I believe we are being manipulated, but I don't know who or why yet. I suspect it is engineered to provoke another 1929 Depression (yes, it *can* happen again regardless of the FDIC). Please consider watching Zeitgeist as required viewing before the strike. It will help you understand what is happening and why. Perhaps it will help formulate the goals of a shutdown. Enough is Enough, but enough of what? "Zeitgiest" will give you a hint.

Addendum: All of the "Depressions" were engineered to cause the relocation of private assets into the pockets of the select few that railroaded the Federal Reserve Act and therefore the Federal Reserve to become established. Did you know that the people that print our paper money are not a govenrment beauracy, but a private corporation with the ability to control the money supply and therefore the economy at will for their own benefit? If you want this strike to have REAL impact it's time to get out the history books (no not the canned garbage we were fed at school, but the REAL history you can only discover by plowing through research until the picture emerges) and know who your REAL enemy is. Violence is not the answer, but neither is complacency. Enough is Enough, but we better have the REAL culprit in our cross-hairs of our intents and actions, if for no other reason than our own peace.

For the record... I have no tie or association to the "Zeitgeist" folks. I receive no renumeration or compensation from anyone. I only advocate it because of what I learned. FYI - I have been researching the Internet since 1996 and had always the nagging feeling that it all didn't add up. Watching "Zeitgeist" brought a lot into focus. I offer it as a suggestion that it may answer your itch on the back of your neck.

Hi all, Think this over, I'm pissed enough too to shut down too but the fall-out I think will make worse an already sketchy public opinion about truckers. Big business is behind the pricing, if you watch the business shows(CNBC) and they'll spin this against us, you know they will.... The public will suffer, ultimately, the effects of a shut down. Indirectly, that's us too. Please think this over.....(the original florida kid)

Posted by
danielaudet
on March 20, 2008 at 5:27 AM

I am ALL for the shutdown. I do think it needs to be May 1,2008. That will be enough time to get the word out. I am tired of staying out 2-3 weeks at a time just to be able to cover fuel costs. The fuel surcharges are not keeping up with the costs. The rates are still the same as they were 10 years ago. Something has got to give!! Quite frankly, I have had enough!!

What I have to say may surprise you all. I am a oilJobber and I feel you pain. I am paying almost $40,000 for a load of Diesel. I bought my business 8 years ago and I put my life savings on the line. I fully support you guys on a shut down go for it do what it takes. when a Oil Company can raise prices 8 and 10 cents a pop we can not pass that on as fast so we eat it. And with large companies trying to buy gallons we end up selling below cost many times. The next thing is allowing crude oil to be controlled by the futures market. Our Nation ecconomy is crumbling and it is Oil (gas and diesel) that is causing it. Good luck guys.

We are gaining support and attention from alot of areas. I personal have made contact with several different organizations and companies to let them know that things must change for the trucking industry NOW... April 1st my company along with several 1000 other drivers,owners,mechanics will protest by parking our trucks at home till fuel comes down and someone listens to our voice in Washington.
1) Regulate our insurance on our equipment.
2) Regulate how much a broker can keep.
3) Put a cap on fuel so price gouging dosent occur
4) Shippers and Recievers must understand our time and equipment is worth something.
5) Recievers must pay for thier own unloading
6) We are not pallet suppliers.
On April 1st if you want change to any of these listed and I'm sure there are more we must SPEAK LOUDLY with unity in our industry. Go to myspace.com/cartracer24 sign the guest book and show you support.... Thank you and God Bless

We are long past due for drivers to come together and take back control of the industry. I am very hopeful that this action can become a success, and I am doing my part to get the word out to as many people as possible via a special forum dedicated to this on our website.

So what is the situation here, code TRUCKER are you an alarmist or an every day guy like me wondering why, the country is going in the direction it is..
Mitt Romney said it best, that at the current rate our nation is heading we will be the "France of the 21 First Century", if you don't know history, France was the most powerful nation in Europe for years, now their just a blip on the radar screen.
Yes, I sometimes wonder if I'm an Alarmist, and yes I pull at the thought all the time, is this something much more dark evil plot than we as Americans can or what to believe!!!
I don't want to get into a big political debate, but you folks also need to Goggle the Communist Manifesto, read this, then ask yourseleves what you see going on in our nation is not starting to align with this belief>>>>

Posted by
charles miller
on March 20, 2008 at 10:23 AM

I as a AMERICAN, a 20 yr AIR FORCE VET with the PRIDE of a PATRIOT, I do not care who or what is going on with OUR COUNTRY, it is time to make it "ALL" RIGHT Agian...

Posted by
charles miller
on March 20, 2008 at 10:37 AM

somebody make a date please what about a one day strike april 1st and if that doesn't get any attention a one week shut down may 1st but something has to be done but if there is no penataly for driving during the strike a lot will try to make money but expect the rewards a strike obtains good or bad something has to be done.

Posted by
james mooty
on March 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM

Well my views on this situation are a little different than most of you, I’m a 14 year O/O and I’ll come right out and tell you I think we should all shut down the same day and cripple the entire country, paralyze the entire USA. Make it so that all Wal-Mart store shelves are empty, have Americans running out of food to feed their families and out of ass wipe paper to clean their asses with. Then!!! Maybe then they will get the picture. Doing it in a nice way never gets the job done, 300 million Americans have to feel the pain of this, and I want to see suffering and misery in every American household out there, THEN!!! I think we can get the fuel down for good. We have to show them without us,,,,, YOU GO HUNGRY. And I’m willing to lead this so let’s get it done boys.

Can Truckers Really Get Together?
There is significant chatter on the Internet, over the CB and at truck stops across the nation about the possibility of a trucker shutdown.
However, the goals are actually yet to be defined. It's obvious to everyone that the cost of fuel is the primary issue, but what are the
possibilities of actually decreasing the price?
It would seem that one remedy might be at least temporary relief from federal and state fuel taxes for big rigs. Perhaps this could be
defined by class, or in some other manner. A tax credit for income tax purposes is a possibility. After all the government is about to
pass out billions of dollars to insure the economy remains stable.
Suppose the shutdown actually did happen. Who would government officials talk with about any proposed remedy?
There are numerous laws that come into play and if a shutdown actually did occur by truckers that lasted more than a day or two, it could
potentially cripple the economy and it is likely that the government would order folks back to work with a "cooling off" period. That
would probably be advantageous as people could continue to work and someone or some group could enter into some type of negotiation to
seek a potential remedy.
There needs to be at least a majority (51%) that would join the shutdown. Anything less would be detrimental to those who would
support the effort and in fact might result in a loss on one's job or business if only a small percentage participated.
Could there be at least a single Internet site where truckers would confirm their intention to support the trucker shutdown. If ten's of
thousands signed a pledge could the objective be obtained without any work action?
In short a goal or goals need to be defined and agreed upon and there has to be some spokesman available. There also needs to be a large
number of truckers willing to step up to the plate. Can that really happen?
Time will tell if this is just idle chatter or is the basis for a work action that might yield some results.

Posted by
george wilkins
on March 20, 2008 at 3:00 PM

Hi Charles - FWIW I am a an O/O with a '99 Volvo that has been parked in my driveway because no one yet will pay me enough to move it. Due to my business plan, I am able to sustain this position for a long time, if necessary. I am fortunate and I have the full confidence of my investors to support my business decisions as I dictate. I am very fortunate in this, but it is also the result of not getting my truck until after 10 years of reseach and hundreds of interviews with O/Os that succeesed and failed. In short I had a plan. So in that regard I am just a regular guy like you. As far as being an "alarmist" I don't really know what you mean, but it doesn't matter as I see labels as a detriment to relationship. If someone wants to know "what" I am, then they will just have to get to know me to find out. What would the perception of the American, nay, the global public have of a "Trucker" if they actually took the time to get to know us as people rather than CNN's Wolf Bliter's "Smokey and the Bandit" image? As far as what I think you mean with your label, I do see some disconcerting aspects and the information I have researched somewhat lined up like dominoes when I viewed "Zeitgeist" the third time. This is why I offered it. Some will dismiss it, until they are standing in line to be injected with the RFID chip "for their own good." So how does all this tie into the "Enough is Enough" initiative? Well, let me answer the question with a question, specifically to all the veterans (Thank you) and patriots... how valuable is firing a missle at the wrong target, except to give the enemy your lat/lon?

I am a trucker's wife. He's been driving a truck for almost 30 years now. He owns his own truck. We had a dairy, but had to give that up because we couldn't make any money. Now he can't make money driving.
He's not out there to play, he works harder than anyone I know.
He finally quit driving for a sorry company last December, because they were finding more and more reasons to keep our money. He got another job about 1 1/2 months ago. It seems good so far, but he only got two checks before he had a major repair costing almost $6000 and keeping him from driving for two weeks. That's more checks we won't get.
We're about to lose everything we've got and now truckdrivers are talking strike. I say "We've all go to go for it!" It's better to do without and go broke than be patsys any longer! Truckdrivers don't have to take any crap from anybody. I know it's going to be very hard, I mean, I don't have a dime right now, but I say we all need to get together and stand up for what's right. Make the government do something for us for a change! Thanks for letting me vent.

Posted by
diana seay
on March 20, 2008 at 7:19 PM

Code TRUCKER, Although I was an aircrew guy in the AF, I understand warfare and also understand that ground pounders will fire shots to draw fire to obtain the enemies lat/lon of course many tactics have to be considered..warfare is not always a predictable out come.
MISS DIANA, I feel for you and husband, I too suffered thur a major break down (tranny and clutch $4100.OO) just before Thanksgiving got to spend it at home, but left 30 Nov. did'nt make it back till the 15 Jan., 34 hr refresh, gone again, passed thur again, 12 hr stay, got close last week (60 mi.) had the mom bring the wife over (shes off work with a broken arm, no I didn't do it slipped on the ice) but I wanted to break the other one after a week in the truck with her LOL, we got home safe and sound marriage still in tac, 3 days this time, WoW that was nice, left Mon., no idea when I'll be back... THIS is the LIFE of a TRUCKER the LIFE the AMRAICAN public does not see...the LIFE we are all to familiar with, what a shame what this Profession has become, I was taught to "Give a good days work for good days pay", I'm still trying to figure out when that changed..I refuse to compromise my morals and values to fit in to this current situation this industry is in, I know that I am not alone in my beliefs. I will continue to grind away as I always have, if success is meant to be I will succeed, if not I will KNOW I DID MY BEST!! STAND STRONG GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Posted by
charles miller
on March 20, 2008 at 9:52 PM

May 1st-8th IS the shutdown date. Enough is Enough lives and breaths, and is well on it's way. Flying J is the single largest distributor of diesel in the US, and corprate office is aware and concerned of the impact this will have on them. I had just posted some flyers, when a manager took it one down. He aburtly took it to his office and faxed it to home office. When he went outside for a smoke, I asked him, and that is what he told me. I wouldn't be surprised if TA's have the same worries.
Need more to download the flyer and post them where ever you stop during the next month. Talk on the CB. There is 4.3 million drivers going thousands of directions. Not an easy task to get the word to everyone.
May 1st-8th is the Shutdown!!!

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 21, 2008 at 1:10 AM

Code Red, I have read and re-read your posts many times. The government chose to deregulate trucking. Regulations in that regard will, or should not happen. What I promote is honest discloser. When a broker offers you a load at say 1.50 a mile, and I tell him it isn't enough, he lies saying it isn't paying much more than that. This very thing just happened last week. That same load went from $1.50 a mile to $2.25 as he had to move it. And he still made money, just not as much. Would you take a load for $2 a mile, if you knew the broker was getting $3.50 for it. I really don't think a bond, phone, and fax machine warrents him taking that much off the load. And as far as depression, Look at what just happened with the 5th largest investment bank in the US. There is to many simularities to our times now, and what lead to the great depression. Lost jobs, homes forclosed, companies going under, and banks going broke. Think about it, but spread the word, May 1st-8th Enough is Enough shutdown.

Hi guys. I'm not a driver but a night manager at one of the big "travel plaza" chains. I want you to know YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT!! Even without the sickening fuel prices, you have it tough enough. Away from your families for months at a time, dealing with dispatchers who have no clue how it REALLY is, maneuvering through traffic with 4 wheelers driving while stupid, all the time trying to pay the bills AND keep DOT happy--not to mention the up-keep on the truck, without which, you wouldn't be able to move. I COULDN'T DO IT!! but i'm glad you do. I wonder though, how much impact you can make if you don't get the big trucking companies in on this? cr england, swift, interstate, etc? They'll keep moving because they can afford to while the O/O's go broke. Reminds me of the 160 acre family farm vs JR simplot. he got rich. the rest of us found different jobs. Take care all and BE SAFE!
thanks

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on March 21, 2008 at 7:10 AM

LISTEN UP!!!!!!!! All participants of a shut down, if we are going to do this we all have to do this together. I noticed that reading all these post on this forum that most of you guys have different dates in mind, that’s not going to work or be effective at all. March 29, 30, 31 are the dates that have been set by 4 of the largest trucking companies in the industry, J.B. Hunt, Challenger, Schneider National, and Werner trucking, That’s about 70,000 trucks total right there, I’ve called OOIDA and they have confirmed these dates also for these 4 companies so if we are going to do this that’s the date it has to be done so that’s its most noticeable and most effective. Just picking a date and having a few thousand trucks shut down will never be noticed, so let’s get this thing done and cause a little suffering in the economy. People never seem to open their eyes until they start to experience pain and loss and hunger and suffering, once people start to see their lives becoming a shamble in ruins THAN THEY START TO NOTICE, and things get done.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 21, 2008 at 8:23 AM

http://www.grannywarriors.com/rally.htm This is a great jump start for the Enough is Enough shutdown. Check it out. I only regret that it is has not had enough time to get the word out.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Shutdown May 1st-8th

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 21, 2008 at 8:50 AM

Iceman, This is the first I have heard of the Mar dates. This has been the problem. Getting the word out.
IT IS OFFICIAL...SHUT DOWN MAY 1ST-8TH> We have a 5 weeks to get the word out to the estimated 4.3 million drivers. Do your part and spread the word. In a recent article, Jim Johnston, With OOIDA, claimed OOIDA would not and could not back any type of a shut down for leagal reasons. I am an OOIDA member and find this disturbing.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 21, 2008 at 8:56 AM

I am trying to get some strike info for Maine. Looking to email truckerjim but get an error message.

Posted by
nts
on March 21, 2008 at 9:00 AM

I agree with the shut down. I have heard for the past week now about the shutdown for April 1st and 3rd. We need help with the fuel but we also need to go back to being REGULATED, since deregulation came in it has gotten more brokers and companies that no longer have to disclose what the load is paying. I don't actually care what the brokers make as long as we get a fair rate. But we have not been getting fair rates. There is no reason that any broker should be making more than 10-12% off any load. If they want to cut the rates to get their foot in the door then it should come out of their profits not ours. We need to go back to being paid percentage,(so we can get the proof of how much the load actually paid. The brokerage business is what everybody wants to start nowadays because they can take advantage of truckers. They start up, put up $10,000 bond get $200-$300,000 in revenue and shut down leaving outstanding bills not being paid to truckers, then turn around and start-up again under another name. This needs to be STOPPED. If we are to continue to be paid by the mile there should be no load in any state that pays under the minimum of the expense of the truck. Ther is such a thing as the mininum wage and hour Law. FL,TX,& CA are the 3 major states where brokers consistently lower the freight rates and make more profits on these 3 states than many others. There should be no load paid by the mile that pays less than the min of $1.50 per mile. But out of FL people are taking loads for under $1.00 per mile. The people that are taking these loads deserve to go out of business for continuing to do this.

Posted by
Wray
on March 21, 2008 at 10:09 AM

OOIDA is not being a part of this shut down but they have confirmed those dates for me over the phone. we really need to get this date thing together. it's tough to believe that OOIDA would be wrong on this. they are usually up to date on these things.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 21, 2008 at 10:33 AM

I looked on the OOIDA website and couldn't find anything about a shut down by JB, Schneider,Werner

Posted by
Wray
on March 21, 2008 at 10:52 AM

it's not on their website because they are not supporting it because they have no balls, no guts, and not willing to take a stand but they sure know how to print out bumper stickers that say TAKE A STAND. They just never follow what they say. but they do know about it if you call them, they are aware of the dates.

If anyone knows of any truck strikes to happen in Maine, kindly pass the info on. We parked our five trucks last week, diesel was $4.29. Brokers are not paying fair rates for the loads and as long as there are truckers out there that will haul the cheap freight, I don't see much changing. As an o/o, we can't survive with the price of diesel and the low rates. We need to band together and let them know that without the trucks, nothing will move! Rails still need the trucks to get it from their to the store or warehouse.

Posted by
NTS
on March 21, 2008 at 12:06 PM

It is not just the brokers, large companies that brokering out the over bookings are quilty also. Recently, LANDSTAR RANGER posted a load from CA to WI. 1912 miles, rate offered $1739. When I asked how they expected to move it, was told, Someone will want to go home. Anyone taking such a CHEAP load will be broke in no time. IF you take a cheap load, they will only keep offering cheap loads. SAY NO TO CHEAP FRIEGHT, SAY NO TO HIGH FUEL PRICES! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, SHUTDOWN MAY 1st-8th

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 21, 2008 at 12:29 PM

I have said it before and will say it again. Most of us can not afford to keep going until May 1. Again I will say that spreading the word that we will only shut down for one week is not going to do any good. Start the strike on April 1, if most of the big co are shutting down the end of March and we start falling in with them we will see some results by May 1st. Most of the people I have talked too have known about the April 1st strike for a couple of week or so now. Word travels fast in this industry. Instead of telling everyone May 1st, why not encourage April 1st.

Posted by
brandit
on March 21, 2008 at 2:22 PM

Mar 20, 2008 2:35 PM
STRIKE!
TRUCKERS UNITE!!
APRIL 03, 2008
We hear every day on news casts from all over the country about every critical event taking place all over the world. However, I seldom hear anyone mention the difficulties facing the Transportaion Industry here in the United States. As a Heavy Duty Truck dealer along with operating several of my own trucks, I am here to tell you that our entire industry is facing a melt down that will dwarf the sub-prime mortgage crissis. Every tangible item that you have ever seen, held, or used was delivered by at least one, if not more trucks. Certainly, this is not something that the American public doesn't already realize. Although, I want to inform you that if everything goes according to plan, Independent Trucks will be going on strike April 03, 2008. This strike is not aimed at lowering fuel prices or any political motivation, but rather we are hoping to get the attention of everyone so that our demands for higher freight rates are understood by the consumers who may exsperience some unpleasantries during the strike. THIS STRIKE WILL EFFECT EVERYONE
Thanks
Jason H Jones
Laurens County Truck Sales
Dublin, GA 31021
478-676-4154
478-278-8711

Posted by
John
on March 21, 2008 at 2:40 PM

I AGREE JASON!! This shut down will not lower the price of fuel, fuel prices are controlled by the world market based on world demand, PERIOD!! But saying all that, we sure need to make an impact on the economy in such a way that it causes the rates to go up NOW, not down the road at a later date. Most truckers cannot wait until the shutdown date, most are going under now, I will be parking my truck in may for good myself and become a company driver for as long as it takes until the rates come up, when the rates come up to where my fuel cost never exceeds 1/3 of my revenue I will get back in my truck in a heartbeat. My fuel now is close to 50% of my revenue and the only reason I’m able to hold on this long is because I have zero debt in my life. If it was not for that I would have been under a long time ago. Most truckers would say that I’m a part of the problem for excepting freight at a 50% fuel to revenue cost and I except that argument with legitimacy but the company I’m with has been very good to me since day one and they are not the problem, it’s the dame brokers that’s the problem and most of our loads come from brokers. You see brokers will tell you that I can’t give you anymore for the load because that’s all the load pays, LOL!!! Well we know that hogwash because if a broker really cared about his loyal drivers that he uses on a regular bases he could call the customer and tell them THE LOAD WILL NOT MOVE FOR THAT PRICE BASED ON FUEL COST, but since most brokers are as OOIDA with no balls & no guts & will not step up to the plate you now have thousands of O/O going out of business but I’m hanging in there until may.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 21, 2008 at 4:10 PM

WILL SOMEBODY HELP ME and go over to www.purchasing.com/Talkback/Comments?
I posted comments over there in response to some big guys comments about the confusion among them why truckers are having such a hard time coping with high fuel costs. These guys are Managers in the Manufacturing/Trucking logistic house, I tried to explain to them the issues. I think it was a good post.
I really think they don't know whats going on out here.....
My computer skills are limited, I would like for all to see on this site their and my comments, but I don't know how to get it on here......HELP**************

Posted by
c miller
on March 21, 2008 at 7:20 PM

In Texas we have Set the shutdown for April 2,3,4. Like others have said most of us are unable to last until May 1 also these dates have been chosen by Port Drivers around the country for their shutdown. I have just came out of NY back home and had never heard the dates you all have listed here for May. The dates have varied but all right around the same week in April. You can see Myself and my other 5 trucks on the side of I 35 W exit #66 with banners and lawn chairs if you all want to join us, best regards.

Posted by
Gunney
on March 21, 2008 at 7:20 PM

OK GUYS!!!! THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!Out of the 57 post so far on this forum we have posted multiple shut down dates, we really need to get this thing together, I’m reading April 2,3,4 and May 1-8 and March 29,30,31 which are the ones that I know about and have confirmed with OOIDA. We have got to come up with a firm date and all of us need to do it on that date PERIOD. If you just pick a date out of the thin air and shut down without thousands of drivers doing it with you, you might as well just keep trucking into bankruptcy because it will have ZERO effect on the country. I want each seaboard of this country to feel our wrath our protest our shutdown and our voices. This will only be achieved by doing it on the SAME DAY.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 22, 2008 at 7:03 AM

As a part of the proposed shutdown beginning May 1, truckers should take their rigs to Washington D.C and park them on the streets and expressways of the Capital. Politicians in Washington wouuld definitely move to help the situation if their was grid lock in the capital, which would effectively shut the place down
Time to let your influence be felt!

Posted by
provomon
on March 22, 2008 at 8:55 AM

The trucker shutdown for owner operators is Scheduled for Aprol 1, 2008 ---

Posted by
L & R Livestock
on March 22, 2008 at 9:56 AM

I just read a major shutdown by 4 large companies - J.B Hunt, Werner, Scnieder National and Challenger is March 29,30,31... So I am hopefull everyone will see that and follow suite...No one gets the date together --thats just a normal vision of what truck drivers act like on the road!!!

Posted by
L & R Livestock
on March 22, 2008 at 9:59 AM

The trucker shutdown for owner operators is Scheduled for April 1, 2008 ---

Posted by
L & R Livestock
on March 22, 2008 at 10:00 AM

I agree with the April 1st date is plenty of time, the word is already spreading through the industry.

Posted by
Wray
on March 22, 2008 at 2:11 PM

april 1st is good for me noboby is subsidising trucks like they did the railroad and were having a hard time making ends meet big companies have been cutting rates soon all there will be is company drivers then they can do what they want to drivers wages

Posted by
james mooty
on March 22, 2008 at 3:56 PM

Truckers! Brothers! For those who are willing to take a stand I salute you! I too was an owner operator 1999 through 2005, but had to get out of driving my own truck because with the rising fuel cost and mere rate increases that could never keep up with the inflation I saw exactly where it was heading for the industry. I've been a company driver since then, butI'm working for an o/o and I know how much he's suffering because I've been there myself. We're both shutting down on april 1st and again, I salute to those who will take a stand. As good ol Larry would put it, lets GIT-R-DUN!!!

Posted by
Vladimir Romanov
on March 22, 2008 at 7:21 PM

Well men, I'm not a trucker but until all of the guy and gal on the road stick together nothing will change. I'm old enough to remember when there was a union out there that pulled together all of the truckers. Not saying that a union is the answer, just saying that Americans need to learn how to stick together and not let our Government tear us apart. It will cost me when and if you stop driving but it's worth the cost to see Americans sticking together again. Pull over until the Government does something about the crooked gas companies.

Posted by
Jeff
on March 23, 2008 at 6:16 AM

I W W Union
called me tonight and stated that they are indeed supporting the April shutdown, They have comitted 16,000 trucks will shut down to show support for our Message To Washington D.C.
They are in agreement that the shutdown is to start on April 1st 2008
Normally O/Os & Unions dont work with each other in a stand but they & I along with thousands of you guys understand, the old say'n "one for all & all for one"
Go to my website for daily shutdown updates
Thanks Boys & Girls
We Will be Heard
Dan Little

we also need to send a message to ooida. if you cant support us we are not going to support you. i am dropping my membership with them cause its a waste of money. calling your reps has done absolutly nothing and it is time to show this country who we really are. i will shut down april 1st but we need to stay out until it is fixed and if tries to go back to the way it is now shut er down again. remember its we the people not we the government.

Posted by
gopher
on March 23, 2008 at 9:08 AM

I agree 100% gopher, OOIDA has spent the last 30 years preaching stuff like TAKE A STAND, NO CHEAP FREIGHT, STOP YOUR BITCHEN, HOLD YOUR GROUND. Well now it’s time to back up all that strong talk grow a pair and act upon your sayings. But instead they back down, WHY??? No balls, no guts, no heart. 30 years of bull shit just went down the drain when they backed out of our shut down. So for me,,,MEMBERSHIP CANCELED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 23, 2008 at 3:05 PM

So true about OOIDA. I have called them for advice on several different issues and the only response from them was that there is nothing i could do. Since i have been a member i haven't really found them to be much help with anything. My dues are paid till Oct, so unless they stand up with us,I don't see myself renewing my Membership. I am tired of calling them to find out what they are doing to help us with the cheap freight rates and all i hear is "If you don't haul cheap freight and leave it on the docks the rates will go up." I don't haul cheap freight but someone else is and i am losing my business. Well I am from the old trucking school where drivers used to stick together. If you broke down you'd have 5 or 6 trucks on the side of the road helping you. Those days are long gone. I say time for SHUTDOWN is now April 1st.

Posted by
Wray
on March 23, 2008 at 5:23 PM

Dan Little of uscattlehaulers.com has posted a list of 5 things that he hopes to accomplish from the shutdown.
I ask that the rest of you who have posted other dates for shutdowns and boycotts please post a list of the items that you are asking to have changed, who you will be meeting with during the shutdown to try and get the changes made and what you feel the benefit of those changes will be to the truckers and to the general public (that is you and I as consumers)
A lot of this is sounding just like our presidential candidates. That is they yell "I WANT CHANGE" at the top of their lungs, but give us very few details as to what those changes are.
I'm open minded, but at this point I have read nothing in any of these shutdown calls that, in my opinion, will do anything but give the news media, plenty of footage and sounds bites of truckers looking and sounding foolish on camera and on air. Please prove me wrong and give me a logical reason to change my mind and support any of these actions. Some of us are doing fine in this business are have no reason to participate in a highly disorganized shutdown. Thank you,
One more thought, please do as you see fit, but do not become violent as some as already suggested and interfere with those who choose to continue operating their business as usual. The economy has cycled for years and those that do not prepare for the down side often do not make back to the good times.
Jim Beetem

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 23, 2008 at 5:32 PM

1) Help with Fuel Rates 2)Make a minimum rate per mile and limit brokers to max of 12% of load pay with all fuel surcharge going to Truck. with better rates we won't have to work so hard just to get a paycheck 3) Get new drivers more qualified training (not 3weeks w/trainer then you can be a trainer) We could help police our own industry. 4) Shut down the trucks that are unsafe and not properly maintained. 5) If you can't read and speak english you should not be driving a truck that endangers everyone around you.

Posted by
Wray
on March 23, 2008 at 6:05 PM

we actually need to go back to being paid percentage of all loads so we can actually get proof of what an actual load pays

Posted by
Wray
on March 23, 2008 at 6:07 PM

Thanks for responding Wray
What specific kind of help do you want with fuel rates and who are you going to talk to about getting the help you want?
To help the shippers, should there also be a maximum rate per mile that they can be charged? Who are you going to ask to set and enforce the minimum rate?
Whey do you feel that 12% is the Max that brokers should charge? Why not 5% or 15%? How did you arrive at that number? Since brokers percentage should have a cap, should they still have to pay the truck if the shipper does not pay them? Since they are just taking a percentage, should they have to use their money to pay the truck in 10 days, even if they have to wait 30 or 90 days for the shipper to pay them?
What if the broker cannot get the shipper to agree to pay a fuel surcharge? Then what happens?
Why should some one guarantee us a higher rate of income so that we don't "have to work so hard"? Should the men and women at McDonald's get a much higher pay than they do now so they "don't have to work so hard"? Oh yes, then the big mac will have to cost more so we can go back on strike for higher GUARANTEED freight rates again. It's a never ending circle and it gets more out of balance with each rotation.
Now I will agree with you on a much more extensive training program for new drivers. Also a longer "apprentice" period before they go solo.
I'm with you on policing our own industry. Please share the specific ways that you would like US to Police our industry?
Again, I'm with you on shutting down unsafe trucks and unsafe drivers. Please share your ideas as to how this can be accomplished?
Now I'm really with you on enforcing, what I think is already a rule that drivers have to take the CDL exam in English and that they must be able to read, write and speak English well enough to do their job. I thought there was such a rule, but I hear that some states are allowing interpreters to help none English speaking Drivers take the test.
Here are some things that I would like to see changed. I would like to see the speed limit be the same for cars and trucks in all states, so that traffic would flow at a fairly steady pace. Now to accomplish this the idea that "they will let us get away with 10 over" needs to be abolished, by having very heavy fines imposed for minor speeding violations. I'm not going to propose a speed limit, but I would just like them to be the same so we could gear our trucks for maximum fuel mileage and pulling power in all states.
What percentage of the load pay do you think is reasonable
for the truck owner to receive?
This was not brought up, but I'm going to throw it out.
If broker "A" has a shipper with a load but cannot find a truck to haul it, and his friend, broker "B" has a truck that would like to haul that load, how should this transaction work and who should get what percentage of the freight? Broker "A" has cultivated the customer and provided him good service for years. Broker "A" will have to collect the money from the shipper and pay some to Broker "B" who will have to pay the trucker who pulls for Broker "B" every week. "Broker "B" will probably make the advance to his truck at time of loading and pay the balance with in 10 days , again out of his own money while he waits for Broker "A' to pay him. Please tell me how you think this transaction should be handled differently and how much each party is entitled to? This happens all the time and it's referred to by many as double brokering. No different than your Cherrio's going though several distributors before it get to the grocers shelf.
So Wray, even though I do not support all of these different shutdown days as being the answer, we do agree on some of the things that should be changed. I await your answer's. Jim

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 23, 2008 at 8:05 PM

Need rates to go up when fuel goes up to coincide with the rising cost. we need someone(don't know who yet) to set rates that freight should maybe capped at and minimum rates. (Fl right now has freight being pulled for under $1.00 per mile) (very unacceptable) I don't mind a broker getting 12% as long as he pays us within 7 to 10 days (not 30 and charging 5% for Quickpay) we need to get rid of the shady brokers out here. the shippers are not most of the problems. Most shippers pay the brokers but the brokers aren't paying the truckers.(been through this before)We need to set higher bonds for brokers to post and alot of the non payment issues will stop. if we had an enforcement of some of our issues the fuel surcharge will be mandatory! Well ********(very large co) pays drivers 65% of the load I think that this is way to much for any company to receive. Especially if the load is Brokered.

Posted by
Wray
on March 23, 2008 at 8:36 PM

It sounds like to me this JIM guy is one of the reasons why our industry will never get anywhere forward, the old attitude that I’m going to keep on trucking while you guys shut down and fight for all of our rights in trying to make the industry better. Typical truck driver attitude. Keep on trucking Jim while I fight for your wages to make them better. Now I know you’re going to post back and say I don’t need to fight for your wages because your making a bundle ect ect ect. I hear it all the time on the CB. Some of you pinheads have no idea what good wages are and that’s what I’m fighting for. TIME TO TAKE A STAND AND GROW A PAIR FOR GOD SAKE.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 24, 2008 at 1:13 AM

Hello ICEMAN, Thank you for noticing that the top of my head is as shinny as a pin. I'm sure that is why you used the term "PINHEAD" in such an affectionate manner.

Since I must have not made my request for information clear in the earlier posts, I'm going to try again but make it easier this time.

What is the number one thing that you want changed?
Who or what specific government department are you going to meet with during the shutdown to negotiate for the change that you want?

I see that you have been an owner operator for 14 years. Do you run under your own authority or are you leased to a carrier? What type of trailer do you pull, (van, reefer, flat, etc)?
It took me 30 years of trying things in the trucking business that did not work before I found what is working for me.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 24, 2008 at 4:18 AM

ICEMAN, thank you for looking out for my interests
"Keep on trucking Jim while I fight for your wages to make them better."
But you must have me confused with a company driver. I do not get a wage. I am a trucking business owner and as such I negotiate with my customers to provide a quality service to them for which they pay me a fee (freight rate if you will).
My goal is to always negotiate a fee that will cover all of my expenses and give a reasonable profit margin.

"TIME TO TAKE A STAND AND GROW A PAIR FOR GOD SAKE."
If you could give me some specific good reasons to take a stand, and how you expect that "stand" will bring about positive changes and improvements in our business, I might be willing to "stand with you." So far all I am hearing is a lot of emotional talk and have yet to see a viable plan put forth.

Note, I am not "TRUCKER JIM" who I believe is the owner of this site, I'm just Jim. I don't want TJ catching flack for my comments. He is a good guy.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 24, 2008 at 4:28 AM

Now here is an idea!
Why don't all you leaders of the various shutdowns and boycotts get together and agree on a single date for all of the events? You know "LETS ALL STICK TOGETHER!"
Then when the date is agreed upon you can work as a gro up to draft a list of the things that you want changed. Then you can make a list of the people or agencies that can make those changes happen.
Call or write to those agencies NOW, and let them know what you want done, so that on Shutdown day they will have had time to prepare to address your issues.
Please tell me what is wrong with that plan?
Most are saying "LETS ALL STAND TOGETHER" yet none of you can even agree on a date to "STAND"

I wish I was in the news media. I could win a Pulitzer for coverage of this Three Stooges Event, as it is currently planned or not planned as the case may be.

Please do us proud and give us SOMETHING that we can stand up for.
Good luck, be safe and professional in what ever you do.
Jim

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 24, 2008 at 4:48 AM

I am a truck driver and a driving instructor. I want this to work... But I know from experence that we all need to shut down together. I am shutting down with everyone else but With-out the large companies we arn't going to make a difference.If you have to run (company drivers)couldn't you just slow down to 45mph for one week, would that not get your feeling across to dispatch, and not get you fired. OOIDA will not help us, but say they are their for us, BULL.... Stop paying them, drop them like they are dropping the ball on this.
This is their job!!! sounds like they are just a company to keep us in line....... window dressing......
I hope we can pull this off....

Posted by
Iammon
on March 24, 2008 at 5:36 AM

Ok Jim, I honestly can’t believe that I have to explain myself to a 30 year + trucker veteran as to why this shut down is a must and a necessary event. Fuel prices are not going to go down based on a shutdown that is controlled by the world markets based on supply & demand so let take the fuel issue completely out of the conversation for now. Now Jim whenever I said I was fighting for your wages also, I am!! It does not matter that you are an owner operator, I am as well. Our pay is still considered wages in the industry no matter how we get paid, either through a leased on company or through negotiations directly with the customer, its still wages at the end of the day Jim. The shutdown will hopefully have a cause in effect on the wage issue and bring them up to where they should be in today’s time. You know as well as I do most of these runs today pay exactly what they were paying in the 70”s except now everything is 4 times more expensive and that needs to change Jim. So here’s how it’s going to work, we shutdown all trucks on a confirmed agreed to date for say 3 days, preferably 3 weekdays and not anything on the weekend because most trucks are shutdown on the weekend anyways, now the attention getter is this, freight stops, the store shelves go empty, Americans start to get hungry and pissed off, no one can fuel up because no tankers are getting to the fuel stations, ALL commerce stops!! Economy accentually shuts down. {The attention getter is achieved} truckers finally get there way thus wages go up. END OF STORY!! Now for god sake grow a pair Jim and take a stand, or as George bush would say, you’re either with us or against us. WHICH IS IT JIM?

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 24, 2008 at 5:57 AM

I'm just a drivers wife, but I am following all of this and am behind the strike 100%. It is definitely time that someone takes care of the truckers. We personally, are not going to make it much longer whether the strike works or not as we are so far behind. Bu we are praying for all the rest of you. I can't figure what the big boys in Washington are going to do without all of you. To bad they didn't get their heads up a little sooner, maybe more of us would have been ok. I also want to know why you think JB Hunt, Werner, Challenger, and Schneider will make a difference if they shut down on the 28, 29, 30, 31, as that is a Fri. thru Mon. They don't usually do much driving on Sat. or Sun. do they? Well, good luck to all of you and we hope it works.

OH My GOD,
Cracker heads, are everywhere, I see this is has turned into the SOS...USCATTLEHAULERS AKA DAN LITTLE outlined the major issues that I think many can agree on..Why is all this so hard for some to understand....The cost of fuel issue is nothing that can be done other than suspending the U.S average .52 fuel tax..We have no control over what OPEC does....All I wont done is to know what the rate is and what is the %%%%%% to everybody!!!!!....I find it hard to believe the rates are the same as the 70's that's.. BS..and what is the standard charge for FSC and wheres it GOING.......IT only take a moment to figure out how the top trucking/broker companies are making major profits....IF Johnny steals 12 apples hides 3, tells Jimmy and Bobby he has 9 apples, gives Jimmy 3 apples, gives bobby 3 apples and keeps three apple for himself who has more apples......CLASS can any one tell me?......

Posted by
chazz
on March 24, 2008 at 7:16 AM

Anyone HMMMMMMMMM,........This is the reality people....continue as it is stay FUBAR, go into this HALFCOCKED, WE'LL ALL LOOK LIKE IDIOTS, NOTHING WILL GET ACOMPLISHED, MANY OF US WILL LOSE OUR LIVIHOOD, THE STRONG AND THE LUCKY WILL PROSPER

Posted by
chazz
on March 24, 2008 at 8:03 AM

Shut em down for a week. Lets grind this to a halt if they wont help us out.

Posted by
Jim
on March 24, 2008 at 8:35 AM

If it takes a week I'd be surprised. Leave it to Werner,JB,Schneider, and Challenger to shutdown on a WEEKEND. HAHAHA what a Joke!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by
Wray
on March 24, 2008 at 8:37 AM

My last comment till you guys start making MORE sense**************"ITS HARD TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE WHEN YOU WORK WITH TURKEYS"************

Posted by
chazz
on March 24, 2008 at 9:08 AM

Before I respond to ICEMANS last comments to me I would like share this information.

At 11:25 a.m on Monday March 24, 2008 I talked to Angle Burneil, who is the Executive Assistant to Todd Spencer and Jim Johnston. I used the phone number 816 229 5791.

Angle said "OOIDA HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PLANNED SHUTDOWN BY ANY OF THE LARGE CARRIERS, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT ICEMAN QUOTED IN HIS MARCH 21 ST POST"

ICEMAN, what is the name and the position of the person that you talked to at OOIDA last week?
Thanks

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 24, 2008 at 9:47 AM

Truckers, O/O, fleet companies , whomever you may be... I support the three "P"s ...Proactive, Peaceful, Progress. It is time for all entities to join together as one and to send a clear and resounding message. And when that message is heard we need to be prepared to work tirelessly to proactively and peacefully achieve significant progress. Ensuring for the next step, turning our stumbling blocks into stepping stones. It's time to be strong and courageous together but let's make sure that phase 2 is ready to follow phase 1. This strike may cost some the last bit of what they have so let's make sure that their unselfish contribution counts. I agree that a definitive plan of points for success needs to be drafted. Everyone is tired of the " 70"s rates and independent O/O that get no surcharges are even more tired. Three trucks are scheduled to be repossessed in Maine's state Capital parking lot in Augusta, Maine this Friday, March 28th at 8 a.m. as a statement by Donald Hayden & Son Logging Inc. that his company is being forced into bankruptcy by high diesel prices. Maine has already lost to many good, hard working independent owner/operators whose pockets just were not deep enough to weather this fuel war. If you set concrete dates and a proactive,peaceful plan to initiate progress keep me posted as Maine is definately interested.

Posted by
Maine Interest
on March 24, 2008 at 9:55 AM

ICEMAN, Yes, please explain it to this 38 year veteran. I fail to see any chance for success as these events are now set up.

If you are still hauling for the 35 cents a mile that I was getting in the 70's you do have a problem. You need a new customer or a new broker. Then my shinny new Pete cost $27,500.00 back in 70.

"Now for god sake grow a pair Jim and take a stand, or as George bush would say, you’re either with us or against us. WHICH IS IT JIM?"

As this poorly organized event stands now I will make it very clear "I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST YOUR MOVEMENT!"
Now, if you can all agree on a single date, and tell me who you are going to meet with to get the changes made and what your desired results are, then I might reconsider and back the shutdown. As it stands now, in my opinion, this has absolutely no chance of success.

Are all of you going to support each others events? This means being shut down from now through April 12th and again from May 1 - 12.
I'm on the phone now with a friend who runs dedicated on I-70 and they are hearing May 15th as the date. Add that date to your schedule.
Where is the "We are all sticking together for a common result?"

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 24, 2008 at 10:16 AM

I can agree with what George Wilkens and Maine trucker are saying and asking for. So I'm not the only one with these questions.

side note, Trucker Jim, administrator emailed me with the information on how to do paragraph's so our comments don't all run together and become hard to read.

I don't know if this will hold when I post but I'll try
"" leave out the quotation marks, each time you do a
< BR > (no spaces) you will get a line return.
thanks,Jim

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 24, 2008 at 10:23 AM

A protest about fuel prices that lasted at least a week would wake up everyone to the cost of fuel and what truckers do for the public. When a trucker's strike over fuel prices happened in Europe in 2000 for 2 weeks it grabbed everyone's attention. Here's a website with the story: http://www.peakoilblues.com/blog/?p=16
Go for it, nothing to lose, already losing money hand over fist, at least it will wake up the public to what truckers do everyday.

Posted by
BobJimJ
on March 24, 2008 at 11:04 AM

The US uses more fuel than any other country.We CAN control the market.All we have to do is not buy from Exxon&Mobil which are one. I got an email the otherday that made sense.If we don't buy from them for the rest of the year it will cause a price war between the oil tycoons.Everyone that can strike should.And boycott the biggest gas company for the rest of the year too.

Posted by
BigDaddy
on March 24, 2008 at 11:58 AM

I've been sending out emails, putting up posters, advising everyone of the local strikes and the nationwide strike by the big companies. I too would like to know who ICEMAN talked to since I've been spreading the "word"! Of course, OOIDA may not want to admit they have any knowledge either since it's against their regulations regarding strikes.
Maine will make a stand Friday when some trucks get repossessed at the Maine State House beside the Governor's mansion and office and legislature!

Posted by
NTS
on March 24, 2008 at 1:56 PM

Enough is Enough Boycott May 1st-8th. I will agree with all, that sooner would have been better. The problem was having enough time to get the word out. Since this blog started, several "strikes" and "Boycott" dates have been passed around by different parties and groups. As I stated in prior posts, TO HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, one date, one time, TOGETHER is needed.
I still stand behing the Enough is Enough, and will be shut down that week. Most of the other dates put out have been spur of the moment things, with no real effort going into getting the word out. Regardless of all this,
Enough is Enough, Shutdown May 1st-8th. Pass the word!

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 24, 2008 at 2:47 PM

I am a 2 truck independant carrier. I would not only love to see a strike, I would whole hertedly particpate! the list of demands should include:#1 A mandatory fuel surcharge,and a limit on the profit margins for the oil companys #2 No lumper fees of any kind #3 Control the percentage the truck brokers are allowed to take #4 Stop the price gouging by the insurance company #5 Shipper must supply their own pallets #6 No more cross border pilot program #7 Mandatory time limit for payment from all brokers and shippers #8 to be treated fairly by dot officers.

Posted by
chris@c.p. farms
on March 24, 2008 at 4:18 PM

Jim,

Here is the official company response...

Regarding the question of Werner participating in a nationwide drivers strike…

The answer is No.

While we are painfully aware of the significant negative impact the cost of fuel has on all of us in our industry, we don’t believe that the strike is an effective way to address the issue, and it would have a negative impact on our customers and our drivers over something which they cannot control.

>>> 03/21/08 9:37 PM >>>

I have a similar response from Schneider National, so some one was posting incorrect information.

SHOESTRING1 WILL YOU PLEASE PULL YOUR HEAD OUT, THE SET DATE IS APRIL 01 2008..........10-4
ICEMAN HAS LOST ALL CREDITABILITY.........4-10

Posted by
charles miller
on March 24, 2008 at 8:33 PM

LOST ALL CREDITABILITY on what charles? i'm probably the strongest advacate for this shutdown but everyone here keeps coming up with different dates, thats why this thing will never work. i was told by sandy at OOIDA that march 28,29,30 was the dates, they are not supporting it but they are aware of it. you guys are coming up with april 1,2,3 out of the thin air. we need to get these date right. it's not a creditability issue, whats up with that crap?

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 24, 2008 at 9:56 PM

OK, ITS LATE I'M TIRED PARDON THE CAPS...CAPT.K CALLED OOIDA (NOTE ABOVE READ IT), I WAS WRONG TO SAY THAT, I AM SORRY! OOIDA ARE A BUNCH OF JERKOFFS ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING.
DAN LITTLE @USCATTLEHAULERS HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON THIS SHUTDOWN, HAS HAD INTERVIEWS, HAD PHONE CALLS FROM VARIOUS IMPORTANT CONTACTS AND HAS BEEN QUOTED ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES. USCATTLEHAULERS SEEM TO HAVE THEIR STUFF TOGEATHER, GOOD OUTLINE OF ALL THE ISSUES, CONTACTS ECT. ECT......... APRIL 01 2008 IS ON.......................ITS POSTED ON THE NUMEROUS WEBSITES.....
AS I SUGGESTED EARLY GOGGLE...
TRUCKERS GOING BROKE THREATENING STRIKE APR 01.....
NOW CLICK ON THE FRIST TEN SITES AND READ AND WEEP APRIL 01 2008.......COPY OVER...10-4
AKA CHAZZ PEACE BROTHER

Posted by
charles miller
on March 24, 2008 at 11:39 PM

Regarding the boycott of Exxon-Mobil, it's a hoax. You can check it out here:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp
As for the date of the shutdown, anyone who would schedule it for April 1st is playing you for a fool -- or had you forgotten that's April Fools' Day?
May 1st, on the other hand, happens to be the date when labor all over the world demonstrates -- except in the United States until recently. If you hadn't noticed, for the past few years there have been MILLIONS of protesters all over the country on May 1st. It is a buy-nothing day and people don't go to work or school. If the shut-down is on May 1st, international May Day, you'll be adding their numbers to your own.
Now there may be some who don't want to be associated with immigrant rights, however the big multinational corporations will bring in cheap foreign labor whenever they can and will continue to outsource U.S. jobs to where labor is cheaper whenever they can. You may not think this has much to do with you, but anything that ruins our economy will hurt everyone. The free trade and globalization policies that have destroyed the economies of other countries are now destroying our own economy. The Teamsters Union has understood this are has been opposing GATT, NAFTA, and other free trade treaties for a long time.
May Day organizers all over the U.S. have expressed a willingness to help circulate your flyers. You can either join the struggle and make common cause against a common enemy with millions of others, or you can Lone Ranger it on April Fools' Day.
If you choose the second option and meet with little or no success, you will still be able to try again on May 1st when you will have the strength of numbers.
Here's another article you might look at if you have any qualms about joining with pro-immigrant protesters:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Major_grower_ends_crop_lacking_work_03242008.html
Without the crops, a lot of truckers will nave nothing to haul, even as the price of food goes up along with the cost of gas. These are not isolated issues and we are not alone.

Posted by
markinsandiego
on March 25, 2008 at 2:10 AM

Capt Klutterbuck thanks for digging into the big 4 shutting down. Fact not Fiction is what this movement needs. Please state facts only as fiction will only hinder success. If anyone can find out about JB Hunt & Challenger, please let us know.

Charles Miller, My head is out, along with about everything else thanks to the economy!
US Cattlehaulers shutdown started as a industry specfic boycott. It also really doesn't have that big of following. If you search the way you say, yes to will primarily pull up just that issue.
I have found nemerous articles about truckers in general, wanting a shutdown. The problem has been getting the word out to as many as possible with ONE date for a start. The gathering in DC the April 15th was something I had not heard about until I did a search. GA drivers striking, again, not until I searched. And the list goes on. I believed most everyone wants to see a shutdown. So again I say;
Enough is Enough, Shutdown May 1st-8th. 10-4

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 25, 2008 at 7:33 AM

MY GOD, Typical trucker BS You GUYS do what ever you want, you got to be to be kidding me! I for one won't align myself with a bunch or jerk offs, punks, thugs, wanta be 60-70 copycat liberal pussy's. You must have never seen coverage of this element of our society during May Day protests..PATHTIC !!When in the hell will you people figure out we (as per the dips ata 450,000 O/O strong) do not have to ride on anybody's coat tails. Isn't any wonder why this Industry is in the shape its in. I give up on you guys. AS JOHN WAYNE SAID "LIFE IS TOUGH ENOUGH, ITS EVEN TOUGHER WHEN YOUR STUPID"

Posted by
charles miller
on March 25, 2008 at 8:18 AM

Charles Miller, just because the Teamsters are opposed to GATT and NAFTA does not make them, "jerk offs, punks, thugs, wanta be 60-70 copycat liberal pussy's." They found out the hard way that with globalization, the only way labor has a chance is in solidarity with international labor. If the corporations globalize and labor doesn't, who wins? Your John Wayne quote is correct, you're just aiming it the wrong way.

Posted by
markinsandiego
on March 25, 2008 at 8:53 AM

I too am an owner operators wife. We have our truck leased on with Schneider. Fortunately we own our truck!! These four companys do have programs for owner operators, the trucks you see on the roads are not all company drivers. My husband logs on-line and pick his own loads, pays for his own fuel, and still does not bring any bacon home just like the rest of you. But for you to assume or say that these 4 large carriers don't run on the weekends is a joke. I would love to know what state you live in that you don't see any of these truck on your roads. My husband is gone "most" if not "all" weekends of every month missing countless, football, basketball and now baseball games, to merely make chump change. I have been searching the internet for countless days to figure out when the "shutdown" is really going to occur. Getting an accurate date would be nice so that I could try to get a "father of 2" home. Maybe atleast if he is going to be parked, it can be in our driveway and spending his time going to a baseball game and not sitting it out in a parking lot.

Posted by
Mellie
on March 25, 2008 at 9:43 AM

This is the response I got from Donna Ryun at OOIDA
Our experience has shown us that the majority of our members would not shutdown long enough for a strike to be effective. We do not take a position on whether or not to strike. We are a trade association, not a collective bargaining unit. We cannot legally call for a strike. However, we support our members in what they are doing, and that's whether they are driving or parking. It's totally up to them.
There's no lack of response on OOIDA's part. OOIDA is speaking daily to mainstream media about how fuel prices are affecting independent truckers and the future health of the industry. Our staff members have fielded calls from dozens of journalists from all over the country, and provided them with information and background. We've worked hard to put them in touch with members for interviews and we've even arranged ride-alongs. Todd Spencer appears nearly every day on syndicated shows to provide information and clarification on this issue.
OOIDA's government affairs folks in Washington DC are pushing hard for new legislation that would call for disclosure of fuel surcharges on freight transactions and a 100% pass through of any fuel surcharges to the person who actually pays for the fuel. We want brokers to keep their hands off of fuel surcharge money that was intended to go to the trucker who bears the cost of the fuel. We're asking our members to contact lawmakers to help us in this mission.
OOIDA's president has petitioned the Bush administration to cease the diversion of oil supplies to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and allow the oil to directly enter the marketplace. We're asking them to use their authority to ensure that our American fuel producers and refiners stop the exportation of diesel to the highest bidder and keep the product in our own country.
Truckers must also do their part. Run compliant, refuse to haul freight that will not pay for the fuel and truck expenses. Rates will only go up if truckers leave cheap freight sitting on the docks. Encourage all truckers to join OOIDA. We need to stick together during these tough times. Contact lawmakers to let them know what's really going on with your business and the high fuel prices, and ask them to support legislation that would even the playing field for truckers.
Historically, shutdowns have not worked for the trucking industry. Some truckers are still making money and have no reason to want a work stoppage. Others simply won't shutdown for their own personal reasons. A failed shutdown would damage our credibility, which would be disastrous to our ability to convince lawmakers to take action on behalf of truckers. If all 3.5 million truckers would join OOIDA, there would never be a need to call for a strike. OOIDA members would benefit greatly from spreading the word and convincing other truckers to join. I hope we have your support

Posted by
irene
on March 25, 2008 at 10:20 AM

I'm an O/O myself. I live in Texas and have been sitting in Brush Co. for 2 days trying to get a load out of here. the rates are just to low for me to move. I keep reading that Shoestring1 says we are shutting down on May 1st. Quite frankly I havn't read anywhere where they are shutting down on May 1st. So I wish he would shut up about May 1st. It seems he is the only one shutting down on that day. I will be shutting as soon as I get home. If I can even make it home. I will be shut down on April 1 untill something gets resolved. I am doin my best to not sound so negative. Shoestring1,,, How do you in find it possible to wait until May. It like everything else people say about truckdrivers,,, we cant agree on a same color sky. There is always someone trying to make things difficult or change something. I think you are by yourself on May 1. April 1 is is what all the other sites are saying, and as for as the fortune 500 trucking companies shutting down on March 29 30 and 31. I think that is great that they are doin it at that time. It will give a little kick start to all the others to follow suit. Once they have shut down, it will make media attention. Other companies will say, hey they are doin it, we'll stand behind them and they will in turn shut down. I have read every post on here. I see a great family of drivers comin together. All we have out here on the road is our family of drivers. I will stand behind my fellow truckers and support the shutdown. I wish all of you the best. I hope we all pull out of this.

Posted by
wayland
on March 25, 2008 at 10:23 AM

Now what the hell are you talking about Mark from Commie land. I'm not talking about the Teamster's I'm talking about the crack pots that show up at all these causes just to wreak havoc. As I see it GLOBELASTION, NAFTA, GATT THE NEW WORLD ORDER is going to change our country into something we are all going to regret. THATS ANOTHER ISSUE!
All I'm saying is we need to stand alone as INDEPENDENT OWNERS OPERATORS and DEMAND the ISSUES that effect US be ADDRESSED, WHY have our PLIGHT be thrown in the pot with all the world problems. We need max amount of ATTENTION... NOW..... not back page news 30 DAYS from now!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by
charles miller
on March 25, 2008 at 11:04 AM

After, reading several posts on here about Schneider National participating in this "Shutdown", I decided to contact them myself "especially since my husband is an owner operator leased on with them". This is the response that I received directly from ad-request@schneider.com.
Melissa,
Schneider National is NOT connected to, nor participating in any rumored
trucking shutdowns. These activities do not solve problems. What we CAN
do as a company, an industry and a country is to conserve this precious
resource by slowing down, reducing idle, driving defensively and using less
oil. We also have to find alternative sources of power to reduce our
reliance on oil. Foreign competition for oil is a matter of fact and we
have to do our part to conserve. Trucking shutdowns do not solve problems
– they only divide the industry from the customer. We will not do anything
to alienate our customers or endanger our drivers.
I just felt it necessary to forward this information on. I wanted to confirm this, especially since we live in Texas and my Husband is in Florida and cannot afford to pick a load with the fuel the way it is their. Which is the worst of two evils "The expense we have for him sitting day and night at a truckstop on meals and showers or accepting our losses, taking a load that won't amount to a hill of beans, so that he can come home"?

Posted by
mellie
on March 25, 2008 at 11:44 AM

YOU People are driving me nuts! I'm with Wayland and Mellie exactly what they said. Irena well, GET WITH IT, THINGS have CHANGED. OOIDA fell asleep at the wheel years ago! 3.4 MILLION DRIVERS out here 160,000 members I WOULD SAY YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. 3.4 MILLION X $45.00= DAM I can't even write that,but I bet you can! That would set your bunch up pretty good huh.......TIME FOR TALK IS OVER ITS "SHOCK AND AWE TIME".!!!!!!!!!!!I like mY BROTHER have been sitting in LAREDO SINCE WEDS SAYING NO TO CHEAP FREIGHT, Booked a load this A.M. (CHEAP FREIGHT) So I can be home for the APR 01 08 SHUTDOWN. CHAZZ STYLE...
SO do whatever, whenever, its just a matter of time, ALL THE INDEPENDENTS WILL BE OUT OF BUSSINESS, THE MEXICANS MUSLUIMS, SERBS, KREDS, INDIANS, RUSSIANS ECT. ECT. CAN FILL OUR SHOES AN WORK FOR NOTHING, THE CORPRATE GOVERNMENT WILL BE HAPPY, AND I'LL FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO......

Posted by
charles miller
on March 25, 2008 at 11:49 AM

Okay, the bigots and xenophobes will be shutting down on April Fools' Day, because they're too dumb to understand that by hating furriners instead of uniting with them against globalization, they're cutting their own throats, and everyone else will be shutting down May 1st to 8th.
Got it.

Posted by
markinsandiego
on March 25, 2008 at 11:59 AM

Go read this
http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/ca6544550.html?nid=4144
this is one of the feed backs from the site
Though I am not an O/O any longer, I did deal with this as an owner and found that the average fuel return to O/O was less than half of the collected fuel rebate. On average the Company’s collect between 23% and 25% as a fuel surcharge. So on a 1500 mile run the owner was paid ant my time 0.23 cents on the mile that ='s $345.00 when the company collected $727.95 for the fuel surcharge. E.g. Charge per mile 1500 x $2.11= $3165.00 Fuel surcharge $3,165 x 23% = $727.95 Total freight charge $3,892.95 The average paid to driver leased to a company was $1.36 per mile that’s with the fuel surcharge added in. So what the company makes on the load is $3,892.95 less $2,040.00 to the O/O. $1,852.95 is the profit made by the company also charges the O/O a percent of his earnings to cover Insurance, usually 3% of his gross income. So now the driver makes $1,978.80. The average cost to fuel was about $2.58 per gallon and the average MPG was 5.5 miles per gallon so it would cost the O/O an average of 273 gallon of fuel to deliver that load. Cost to driver $704.34 - $345.00 =$359.34 Total income is now $1,619.46 That’s now $1.07964 per mile. But that’s not all the O/O costs to deliver load, and I will get into that at this time. So the Company makes $1,852.95 on that load free and clear with no worries about Meals, wear and tear on their truck, Time to Load and Unload freight that is not paid for to driver until after 4 hrs at the dock, that’s 2 hrs loading 2 hrs unloading. Delay in traffic, weather conditions and Border Crossing time. Cost for a wrecker if a problem arises. When all these things are factored in the average pay might be $0.58 cents per mile profit. Most companies give a Leased Operator just enough miles to keep them running but not enough to make it profitable.

Posted by
irene
on March 25, 2008 at 12:04 PM

This shutdown CAN work if the target is the right entity. We need to target the Government NOT the oil companies. If the Government reduced their fuel tax and all their other taxes we would be doing a lot better than we are now. With all due respect for Schneider National those ideas are for the most part just not sustainable or obtainable for the O/O. It's nice to say slow down or do not use as much oil but some of us live in the real world where we do not have the backing of a huge corp to get us new efficient equipment that doesn't burn oil. As far as alternative power like what? the new fuels cost even more than regular diesel when you factor in all the other things into acquiring it. You know, forget what I said about "all due respect", Schneider can go to hell along with the rest of them who have no problem using us for their profit but refuse to stand with us when we need to stand up for ourselves. I wonder how they would react if we said that they need pay 100% of fuel on top? Thing they would stand with us then against the government?

Posted by
mfee01
on March 25, 2008 at 12:06 PM

You know this may not turn out the way we hope it does. But by god atleast we stand together for something (for a change). How can we make the public and the goverment understand our problems if they don't hear us. they don't have CB's you know. I can't even make my own 29 year old son understand that we are going broke. When all he sees is the money comeing in. They don't understand that ity goes back out in fuel, taxes, repairs. All they see is the nice truck and the harley in the driveway. Not the loss on a schedule C. A shut down is the only way!!!!

Posted by
irene
on March 25, 2008 at 12:23 PM

MARK...."NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A GROUP OF DUMB PEOPLE" WHAT IS FURRINERS? DO YOU MEAN FORIGNER hmm........AND PLEASE DO NOT REFER TO ME AS A XENOPHOBES!!!! I PREFER MISFIT....A MISFIT AMONG MISFITS

Posted by
charles miller
on March 25, 2008 at 1:31 PM

Excellent Post Irene (Posted by irene on March 25, 2008 at 12:04 PM)

Posted by
Wray
on March 25, 2008 at 1:34 PM

my2cents.i`m not here to tell anyone right or wrong.i remember not so long ago fuel got over 2.50 a gallon and the talk well,their was a lot of it and although i believe most are passionate about the issue.the issue really isn`t the price of fuel.fuel was the trigger.the real problem is the price of freight and the availiable drivers willing to haul it for less.my truck has sat quite a bit the past two years because of my rates.i`ve had the good paying runs and lost them to someone who thought they could make more by hauling more loads.some of those companies have called me recently.funny i think.i now have a contract that i have worked hard for and am very happy with.anyhow sorry if i ramble in short they will pay the rates to move the loads...i should add i did all of this before the mexican trucks were allowed to cross.don`t know if that is a factor or not but good luck with the strike and i will keep doing it my way...

Posted by
racehorse
on March 25, 2008 at 7:57 PM

My husband has been an otr trucker for over 30 years so I can really feel for all the drivers and their families. My experience has been that you are all talk. There are not enough drivers with the support of their families to stage a shutdown. A coast to coast shutdown is the only thing that will make everyone stand up and listen. Everything tangible has at one time or another been on a truck, without the trucking industry this country would be barren. You all talk the talk now why don't you walk the walk, stand up and say enough is enough. This country needs you guys in order to survive and it's time everyone realized it. I am without my husband for weeks because he is trucking for an ungrateful America and I'm tired of the trickle down effect, my family pays for it with the increase in the cost of living and the decrease in our income. This because the bureauocrats want to put more money in their pockets by raising fuel prices, we know who owns the oil companies. Stand up truckers unite enough is enough. Only you can do it.
Posted by bigred on March 25, 2008 at 8:37 PM

Posted by
bigred
on March 25, 2008 at 8:55 PM

My husband has been an otr trucker for over 30 years so I can really feel for all the drivers and their families. My experience has been that you are all talk. There are not enough drivers with the support of their families to stage a shutdown. A coast to coast shutdown is the only thing that will make everyone stand up and listen. Everything tangible has at one time or another been on a truck, without the trucking industry this country would be barren. You all talk the talk now why don't you walk the walk, stand up and say enough is enough. This country needs you guys in order to survive and it's time everyone realized it. I am without my husband for weeks because he is trucking for an ungrateful America and I'm tired of the trickle down effect, my family pays for it with the increase in the cost of living and the decrease in our income. This because the bureauocrats want to put more money in their pockets by raising fuel prices, we know who owns the oil companies. Stand up truckers unite enough is enough. Only you can do it.
Posted by bigred on March 25, 2008 at 8:37 PM

Posted by
bigred
on March 25, 2008 at 9:14 PM

you guys must be the same lame brain think you know it all but don't know jack drivers I see and hear throughout the country.Listen to some of the smarter people here.This shutdown as its going will accomplish nothing.Opec doesn't care if we strike or not.Oil reserves will increase if we do and then production will be cut and prices will rise.If you work somewhere that doesn't pass along 100% surcharge then you have missed the point and will cease to function soon.Some things do need changed but this shutdown will never get anything done or ever happen.I'm not happy with any of the for mentioned items in this blog but I have made more clear money in the last 3 years than I ever have.It pays to hunt good companies with good freight instead of griping about how many problems you have with yours.

Posted by
straycat
on March 25, 2008 at 10:00 PM

you guys must be the same lame brain think you know it all but don't know jack drivers I see and hear throughout the country.Listen to some of the smarter people here.This shutdown as its going will accomplish nothing.Opec doesn't care if we strike or not.Oil reserves will increase if we do and then production will be cut and prices will rise.If you work somewhere that doesn't pass along 100% surcharge then you have missed the point and will cease to function soon.Some things do need changed but this shutdown will never get anything done or ever happen.I'm not happy with any of the for mentioned items in this blog but I have made more clear money in the last 3 years than I ever have.It pays to hunt good companies with good freight instead of griping about how many problems you have with yours.

Posted by
straycat
on March 25, 2008 at 10:00 PM

Wayland, straycat, and all other negative indeviduals; Enough is Enough shutdown May 1st-8th is not directed at ANY oil company directly. Any shutdown is aimed at the government, and brokers, and cheap shippers. The government tried to get legislation in place to make sure fuel surcharges got to the person paying for the fuel. But the that has been side stepped by brokers. When you allow them to quote the rate as ALL INCLUSIVE, you have waived your right to the fuel surcharge. As far as how I can wait until May to shutdown, I can't. April 1st I will also shutdown, just incase this date has gotten some merit to it. BUT, May 1st is, and has been the date targeted the longest and most effectively. I am not the only one pushing this date, but probally one of the loudest and most persistant.
Enough is Enough, Shutdown May 1st-8th.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 26, 2008 at 3:11 AM

Let me be clear about my stand. Even though my new friend, Dan Little is getting a lot of media coverage, and a lot of calls of support from individuals, small trucking companies and the IWW, I'm still not convinced that there will be enough trucks shut down at the same time to make an impact.

Mr. Little is getting attention from the media because he has posted his name, email address and phone number so the media, supporters and detractors can contact him. He tells me that his phone is ringing steadily.

Now as for the May 1 -8, shutdown, I really only see a poster with the handle of "Shoestring" calling for and promoting that date.
Mr. Shoestring, have you posted your real name, address, phone number, and email address anywhere so that the media can contact you? If so please post it here also.
Can you post the links to the news stories, and radio and TV interviews that you have done promoting these dates?
Can you give us summaries of the conversations that you have had with your states congressmen and senators. Who did you talk to and what help if any will they support?

Of all the dates being thrown around, most seem to be only be posted on the Internet and mentioned now and then on Channel 19, except for Mr. Little's April first event.

Now, I think that I'm safe in saying the the "GOVERNMENT" doesn't listen to channel 19 nor surf the trucker websites to see "WHAT TRUCKERS NEED".

On another site someone pointed out the "THE GOVERNMENT", is like an elephant, It's big, It moves very slowly, and it steps on and crushes anything or anybody that gets in its way.
For all who support any of the proposed events, please post the results of any conversations that you have had with any of the congressmen or senators in your districts asking for there help. Bickering among our selves is accomplishing nothing. Talk to the people who can make the changes happen.
See ya at the truck show in a few hours. I do hope all of you are shutting down the March 227 to 30 and will be attending the truck show in Louisville, KY. Come learn whats new in the industry. Maybe you will find a better contract from one of the recruiters while your there.
Please be safe and allow those who want to work to carry on.
Jim

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 26, 2008 at 4:43 AM

Thank you to all the posters who have taken the time to contact OOIDA, and the Major Carriers who seem to have been incorrectly reported to be shutting down. Thanks for what you have done and posting the results.

I would also like to see the results of any phone conversations or meeting that any of you have had with your elected officials.

The "Government" on recess this week so you representatives should be in their offices in the home districts this week.
Set up a meeting with them and help the cause.
My 10 hour break is almost up. (I do run legal and it works for me).
It's time to go drop this trailer in about and hour and head for the truck show.
Now if you don't all support "MY" shutdown this weekend and come to the truck show, please tell me why I should shut down on the days that you want to take off?
Jim

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 26, 2008 at 4:50 AM

LOL!!!!! the capt jim trucker wants us to shutdown on a weekend whenever trucks are shutdown anyway, LOL!!! no wonder this industry will never get better, truckers just like jim never want to sacrafice.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 26, 2008 at 6:18 AM

I want to do my part to, so I have printed off the flyers to post out and about. This is a serious situation, and it is affecting all of us. My husband is an o/o and I want to do it for him and the rest of you all. I know how hard you work, and I for one want to thank you for keeping food on our shelves, clothes, and whatever else thats in our stores. Stand Up ---ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Posted by
Green Forest AR
on March 26, 2008 at 8:31 AM

I would like to point out, Enough is Enough was born by many truckers in the San Antonio are the first week of March. Many there stated they would Spread the Word. I for one have kept that promise. Do your search, you will find most all other dates have just Happened. Not enough time to get the word out. Many truckers are passing word about Enough is Enough, and it is growing.
I will be shutdown April 1st. I will also shutdown April 15th. Maybe these dates will end up with Merit. But come May 1st-8th, I will be parked and shutdown again.
Watch the news, any news. The number one issue in America is the economy. High fuel prices have been the #1 driving force behind the economies downtrun. $2 fuel, things started slowing down. $3 fuel, the economy stopped. Now with $4 a gallon fuel, the economy is backing up. If the failure of the 5th largest investment bank doesn't bring that fact home, your blind.
Economy forcasters are like weather forcasters; They say sunny, but you look around and it is raining.
Enough is Enough, Shutdown May 1st-8th.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 26, 2008 at 9:00 AM

THIS SITE IS STARTING TO BORE ME

Posted by
C
on March 26, 2008 at 9:16 AM

I am a retired trucker, and my late husband was a trucker. I think the only thing to do is to go out and the sooner the better. What has our Government done to help this situation, and it is going to have an effect on all of us, but there has to be a sacrafice made by all. You must all go down together and stick together until the goal is accomplished. I want you to know that everyone that I've talked to is back of you 100%. It is going to kill all of us at the rate things are going. You guys and gals can control this economy completely just stick together and go for it, because if you don't there are alot of you going down the tubes.

Posted by
Diane Huth
on March 26, 2008 at 7:30 PM

everyone needs to pick a date this is rediculous. here we are on march 27th and noone seems to agree or know what is going on. STAND TOGETHER. TOO GET THINGS DONE.

Posted by
twainwright69
on March 27, 2008 at 11:38 AM

the date has been picked APRIL 1ST Most people will be shutting down on the 1st it doesn't matter if others go out on other dates. My trucks will be Shut down till rates improve to cover fuel, driver pay and all other expenses

Posted by
Wray
on March 27, 2008 at 1:50 PM

I have always said that a total strike is not the way to go. But, if u just pick a major city like, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago ... and dont pick up or deliver to that city..... u will get ur point across. This way.... everyone keeps working and no one has to lose pay for a total strike. Just pick up and deliver in other areas. Think about it gentleman.

Posted by
Restick Nomad
on March 27, 2008 at 6:06 PM

In reguards to the questions you posted...... the site, truckers4change.com has opened a way for truckers to come together, as an industry, and make a differance.
We have spoken to attournies involved with the trucking industry, and have decided to address our situation in the site.
The issues listed in our site, which is only a begining, are why......
and we have people, both company drivers, owner operators, and legal advisors, willing to go to Washington and speak for our industry.
Please check out the site and if in agreement, sign the guest page, because we all know, there is streignth in numbers, and we need the numbers.
Also, the homepage is printable and use it as a flier to get the word out.
Thanks D J "Rebel" Brown

I’m not a trucker but following with great interest and sympathy for your plight.
I have read ALL postings here. This group is very similar to AA groups. We have no leader, we are each independent with an opinion, but we all suffer from the same problem (disease), yet we all come together to find a common solution. We have a saying, Principals before Personalities. Lot of personalities here. Some with great reasoning abilities, some hot heads, some fence sitters, some leaders and some followers, some doers and some watchers. But we stick together and come together for a common cause using the Principals before Personalities as a guide. The first thing we had to do was to DEFINE THE PROBLEM. (You have done that well here). Now the SOLUTION became clearer but we needed a plan to carry it out. That’s when the first two founders, men of vision, and early AA members wrote the design for living, the 12 Steps, AA’s plan to carry out the solution. We discovered we couldn’t do it alone Once the AA story was covered by Jack Anderson in the Washington Post news AA went nationwide and people needing help starting contacting them. The movement grew! Some here have investigated the Solution and offered opinions: shutdowns, contacting legislators, checking legal aspects. It appears that Trucker Jim is a man of vision, he saw the problem, he came up with a solution, and he put it into action. But he can’t do this alone; it is not his problem alone either. One thing the April 1 shutdown date will do, if enough are united, is get some media coverage. The April 1st Shutdown may just be the kick you need to get attention. Maybe you will need a May 1st date too. Maybe even the April 15th date too. Don’t give up and stay united. I have emailed all my friends across the US and they have done the same. You will have the support of the consumers though it will affect us too. Hang tough boys and girls.

Posted by
Kittyc
on March 27, 2008 at 11:13 PM

I’m not a trucker but following with great interest and sympathy for your plight.
I have read ALL postings here. This group is very similar to AA groups. We have no leader, we are each independent with an opinion, but we all suffer from the same problem (disease), yet we all come together to find a common solution. We have a saying, Principals before Personalities. Lot of personalities here. Some with great reasoning abilities, some hot heads, some fence sitters, some leaders and some followers, some doers and some watchers. But we stick together and come together for a common cause using the Principals before Personalities as a guide. The first thing we had to do was to DEFINE THE PROBLEM. (You have done that well here). Now the SOLUTION became clearer but we needed a plan to carry it out. That’s when the first two founders, men of vision, and early AA members wrote the design for living, the 12 Steps, AA’s plan to carry out the solution. We discovered we couldn’t do it alone Once the AA story was covered by Jack Anderson in the Washington Post news AA went nationwide and people needing help starting contacting them. The movement grew!
Some here have investigated the Solution and offered opinions: shutdowns, contacting legislators, checking legal aspects. It appears that Trucker Jim is a man of vision, he saw the problem, he came up with a solution, and he put it into action. But he can’t do this alone; it is not his problem alone either. One thing the April 1 shutdown date will do, if enough are united, is get some media coverage. The April 1st Shutdown may just be the kick you need to get attention. Maybe you will need a May 1st date too. Maybe even the April 15th date too. Don’t give up and stay united. I have emailed all my friends across the US and they have done the same. You will have the support of the consumers though it will affect us too. Hang tough boys and girls.

Posted by
kittyc
on March 27, 2008 at 11:23 PM

You all amuse me. There are not enough drivers with the support of their families to stage a shutdown. Just find another job, plain and simple. Get qualified for a job that doesn't require the commitment that truck driving does. High fuel costs, away from family, long hours...we have heard this all before. Nothing is going to happen, you will still pump diesel in the truck when it reaches $5 a gallon. All this complaining and nothing will be accomplished.

Posted by
Aaron
on March 28, 2008 at 7:52 AM

Aaron... you need to get a clue. You just had a mouth orgasm. You're spouting off crap your brain knows nothing about.
http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6154878&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Posted by
David
on March 28, 2008 at 8:42 AM

Aaron, you are entitled to voice your thoughts. You are not alone in thinking this way. You seem like one of the flock that just follows along, going where steered, and feel it is wrong to protest. Unforuately, too many have been doing this for way to long. Any boycott or shutdown will have an effect. The more involved, the larger the impact. Government will have no choice but to notice and act. I for one, will remain shutdown through all the tossed around dates. April 1st, April 15th, and ofcourse, Enough is Enough, Shutdown May 1st-8th. Good luck to you just following along as you seem to have been trained.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on March 28, 2008 at 9:15 AM

Country Music Singer joins our fight
Billy Daltons people contacted me today & gave me Billy's phone #
Said he wanted to speak with me, so I called him.
He told me he had just released a new song to support the truckers in the April 1st shutdown.
title "You Better Thank God For The Trucker"
I will have the song up & playing on my website within the hour
www.uscattlehaulers.com
Dan

Posted by
Dan little
on March 28, 2008 at 10:09 AM

Wow, Fox 6 out of Birmingham covered the story! Great job finding that online David. That is some real news coverage right there (from a local station.) Just because it says "Fox" doesn't make it national news. C'mon get the word out. I want to see this on MSNBC, CBS, or 60 Minutes on ABC. Who is Billy Daltons, Dan? Must not be very popular...great way to recognition, get an artist that 90% of people have never heard of to write a song. Shoestring, I am entitled to my own opinion, just happens to be that a lot of people agree. Tired of hearing the complaining. This boycott/shutdown will fail just like the many times people weren't supposed to buy gasoline on a certain day to send a message to the oil companies. The Mexicans can get CDL certification and work for less than you. Guess you'll be handing me my change at McDonalds or parking my car.

Posted by
Aaron
on March 28, 2008 at 11:20 AM

DAMER, BILLY DALTON WILL BE A STAR AFTER THIS HITS THE AIR WAVES! THE NEW TRUCKERS NATION THEME SONG. HAD ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP FROM HITIN THE LEFT LANE, FIRING UP THE OL PETE, AND HEAD TO MY FAVORITE DANCE HALL TO KICK UP THE BOOTS AND DRINK A CASE OF BUDLIGHT HAMMER DOWN BILLY D... THANKS DAN

Posted by
CHAZZ
on March 28, 2008 at 12:27 PM

EAT THAT AA-RON OR IS IT MO-RON

Posted by
CHAZZ
on March 28, 2008 at 12:32 PM

Looks and sounds like April 1st, 2nd & 3rd are the dates. I'm hearing lots of talk on the CB. I will shut down for the three days. My friends say that they are also shutting down. Better to shut down and be safe, than to run and take a chance at something bad being inficted to you or your equipment. We all know the bad things that happened in the 70's. I'll stay off the road and safe.

Posted by
NC_Lilduke
on March 28, 2008 at 12:47 PM

Hate to know an alcoholic trucker named Chazz was riding behind me on I-10. Hope you don't fall asleep at the wheel after drinking all those brews. Go pick up some lot lizards after you get nice and drunk. Do you have herpes Chazz?

Posted by
Aaron
on March 28, 2008 at 12:54 PM

That song is great! especially if you like country. I will by it. Finally a song about trucking, haven't heard too many since guys like Red Sovine, CW McCall,Dave Dudley,and many others.

Posted by
Wray
on March 28, 2008 at 2:07 PM

Aaron you need to understand, for a lot of us trucking is like farming. It's not a job, it's a way of life. We have been hauling frieght and suplying America for generations. We the few and proud Owner Operator's refuse to lay down without a fieght. To take my truck would be like triing to take my guns. "Only from my cold dead fingers!" So you see when our little profits are taken from us by unscrewpuless oil companys that profit by raising costs beyond what we can afford. Governments that pass new emitsion laws that cause us to get less fuel milage. Then tell us to freeze at night & roast by day because you cant idel the engien it's time to stand upand be noticed. I AM ALL FOR A SHUTDOWN!!
as Earl Pitts would say "STAND UP AMERICA & PITTS OFF!"

Posted by
NC_Lilduke
on March 28, 2008 at 2:23 PM

As a broker I agree that the O/O and companies need to make a stand. And at the same time I wanted to say that contrary to popular belief not all brokers keep their profits secret. Our companies policy is to let the customer know how much the truck is being paid and if the driver asks we willingly tell them what the customer is being charged. I have to admit other brokers have been heard to say that we are crazy. But I have to say the drivers we use are loyal and our customers like the honesty. We are by no means getting rich (our average profit is 12%)but we have managed to stay in business for the past 3 years.

Posted by
Lynn
on March 28, 2008 at 3:40 PM

Lynn, If what you stated is true I wouldn't mind doing business with you.

Posted by
Wray
on March 28, 2008 at 4:30 PM

I have no problem with 4 buck fuel as long as we're making 2.50 a mile. I know there are a lot of drivers out there who recieved an F- in math, It cost a 1.20 a mile to run that truck and your running for a 1.50 a mile you know who you are, you dont belong running a business, because thats what it is... a buisiness. Business is not fair, thats a cold hard fact, its cut throat and people will screw over quicker than you can blink. Most importantly YOU MUST PAY YOUR TAXES! I know there's a mess of you out there that are behind on your taxes, if you cant afford to pay them you need to get the hell out of the truck and go work for a company. If you use your tax money to run your truck, your not making it, sorry. In the long run you will be better off anyway, you'll make 40 cents instead of 30 cents a mile and have health insurance. I do support this movement or whatever you wanna call it, 100%, but just remember folks, if we dont get more money we are gonna drop like flies. The only ones left are gonna be the businessmen of the bunch. later

Posted by
93pete
on March 28, 2008 at 5:26 PM

The question is ????? All you drivers want to know how we can together stop the fuel trucks???? The way that you stop the fuel trucks is take the Pilots, Love's, TA's, Petro's and any other truck stop not mention. Everyone take their truck to a truck stop near you get in it as close and as tight as you can all the way into the street both way waiting to get in. Once the truck stop is full, no one can get in and no one can get out. This goes for company trucks and o/o's alike. If they can get in or out then everyone has to stop. Not only trucks but your family cars on the front. Then the fuel trucks can't get in and they are shut down also.

Sorry but you can read everything here and all it is .......is a bunch of words. The sad truth is none of you are going to strike and you want to know the reason why because you are just afraid of losing a dollar as anyone else.....And if by some miracle you do strike what good would it do? It would do nothing why you are sitting along side of the road thousands of trucks will be rolling by you delivering freight just like always...From what i see its just people bored going on about something that is never going to take place you guys cant get it together among yourselfs do you really think thousands are going to listen?

Posted by
what a joke
on March 28, 2008 at 6:37 PM

WELL I’LL TELL YOU WHAT Mr. what a joke!!! There are thousands of us shutting down because we are trying to make a difference out here instead of yelling IT’S NOT GOING WORK!!! IT’S NOT GOING TO WORK!!! Let me tell you guys and girls something right now. And I’m not alone on this type of thinking, if I see your ass out there running up and down the road while I’m shut down trying to make the industry better for me and you, don’t be surprised if you get a 20 pound block put through your windshield at nighttime while driving under an overpass on the interstate. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
Park’em and don’t let me see you running, and I mean it!!

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 28, 2008 at 6:57 PM

Why are so many of you blaming brokers for your decisions to haul their freight? If you disagree with brokers who don't pass on the fuel surcharge, don't haul their freight. If no one hauls their freight, they can't put it on their own trucks (assuming they don't have their own) and they have to give it back to the shipper. That's when the shipper has to raise what he's willing to pay to get it shipped in a hurry.
A work stoppage or "shutdown" is NOT what is needed.
What IS needed is a national shutdown on CHEAP FREIGHT only!
Let's keep working, paying our bills, etc, but don't do it for less than $2.00 per mile.
A national SHUTDOWN says "We are a bunch of babies who aren't going to do anything until we get our way."
A national MINIMUM RATE DEMAND says "We know the country needs goods delivered, and we're willing to do our part, but not if it puts us out of business."
Let's all do each other a favor and keep the faith of the american people. Let's show them that we are not the rebel outlaws, speeding an 80,000 pound death machine down the highways. Let's show them that we are family oriented, self employed, small businessmen & women, who have bills to pay, just like the rest of americans.

Posted by
Curt
on March 28, 2008 at 6:59 PM

damn 93pete that was harsh...and soo true.i`ve been watching this board waiting to see if someone will grasp the concept of leaving that cheap freight on the dock and making sure you are getting enough to bounce...do not haul freight to pay for fuel.this isnt pay to play...leave that cheap freight on the dock.that would have been a better protest i think

Posted by
racehorse
on March 28, 2008 at 7:11 PM

curt i knew someone could put into words what i wanted to say...oh yeah,iceman bad things happen to bad people,how are you going to feel if your brick smashes a drivers windshield who is out there makig a living and yes it is possible just because you havent figured it out,and he or she crashes into an innocent family killing them all.i`m guessing you don`t care.

Posted by
racehorse
on March 28, 2008 at 7:37 PM

For those that want to block fuel islands and completely shut down the economy, I have a few questions.
Do you have a 6 week supply of bread, milk, eggs, diapers, baby formula, and prescription drugs, just to name a few essentials on hand?

Do you have a "do it yourself heart surgery kit at home"?
With no gas or diesel available, the Doctors and Nurses can't get to the hospital, and the ambulances and fire trucks can't run, what if your loved had a heart attack or was in the hospital during the shutdown and could not get medical attention, or your house caught fire?

The people that man the water pumping station, the electrical generating station, and the sewage treatment plants can't get to work?

How will you flush your toilet and where will it go, oh yes, as you sit in the dark.

The people that you want to make the changes that you ask for can't get to work to help you even if they wanted to.

AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE INTERNET RUNNING AND CELL PHONES WORKING WON'T BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK SO YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER OR DECISION MAKERS. whether you realize it or not, this high tech stuff needs more attention than a new born baby. (that might be a good thing).
No beer and nothing be transmitted to your big screen TV.
Maybe it was the big screen TV you bought on time payments that put you in the shape your in now?

So think about what you want to do and be sure that your ready to live with the consequences.

Notice the number of "Threats of violence" already being posted. I'm sure that some of those threats will turn into actions.
ICEMAN, this is your pinheaded friend, I'm still waiting for you to explain what you want and who you are going to talk to during the shut down to get the changes made, because as you pointed out earlier, this "30 + year veteran driver doesn't get it"

Parting comment. I've been in Louisville, KY at the truck show since Wednesday. No one has brought up the subject of a shutdown that I have heard. The show is very well attended this year so there must be plenty of Truckers who are good business people who can afford to park their trucks for a few days or the week and many of them are here with their families enjoying the show.

And if you believe nothing else I've said, believe, this, THERE AIN'T NOTHING CHEAP AT THE TRUCK SHOW OR IN LOUISVILLE! I'm not talking about the vendors, but the cost of eating and motels for those attending. Many will spend one or two months truck payments while at this show.

For those that feel a shutdown will accomplish something, please shut down with my blessing. Just follow the guidance
of Dan Little, founder of the April 1 shutdown, and keep it voluntary and non violent.

For those of us that will be running all summer, I offer some suggestions. If possible, keep the cb's on during this time (mine is normally off). Try and run in small convoys so that we can look out for each other. (you know that "all stick together thing"). If possible only run during day light hours. With all the trucks that will be shut down at home, there should be no problem for the few of us who will still keep the goods moving to find parking places at night during the shutdown.

Have "911" as on your speed dial.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 29, 2008 at 3:38 AM

I am a retired owner operater. In 1974 we were also told that a truck shutdown would not work. Well it did. It got the President off his ass and we got most of what we were fighting for. I remember fuel had gone to .35 a gallon and you could only buy 25 gallons at a time. (If you were lucky

Posted by
Ralph Harris
on March 29, 2008 at 3:59 AM

Ralph Harris Is absolutely correct, it worked before and it will work again IF we have the numbers. YOU ARE WRONG!!!! Capt Klutterbuck because I talked to 4 different people that was at the truck show and they all told me that the shutdown was all most drivers were talking about down there. Why are you so spineless and gutless with no balls, grow a fu*cking pair why don’t you, stand up for your industry for god sake, if you don’t want anything to change in the trucking industry IT’S SIMPLE,,,, just do nothing and keep trucking and those are the results you will end up with. Go ahead and keep trucking while I’m parked on a national shutdown trying to make the industry better for you and myself and if I see your ass running out there while I’m making the sacrifices don’t be shocked if you run into a 20 pound cinderblock one night. I’ll be dame if you’re going to run while I’m shut down.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 29, 2008 at 4:56 AM

Lets make this shutdown educational. Even the local people can get in on it. I bought 2 electric 3 wheel scooters for my wife and I and we keep them charged up by solar power. Therefore fuel cost us nothing. If gas and diesel are not being sold, the price will have to come down or the oil companies will have to drink it. If you live in the country, You can ride your horse to town once a week for supplies and the horse eats the grass along the highway and also fertilizes it. As long as we keep guzzeling gas and oil the oil companies are going to keep gouging us. What we need to do is step backwards a little bit and tell the polital people to go to hell. The people in power are only interested in one thing. LINING THIER POCKETS. TRUCKERS..............PARK YOUR RIGS........LET GEORGE BUSH explain to the citizens why there is no food or supplies and I guarantee we will see some action in a very short time. But give this shutdown a couple of weeks to work and WASHINGTON DC WILL BE SCRACHING LIKE A BUNCH OF CHICKENS

Posted by
Ralph Harris
on March 29, 2008 at 6:00 AM

If you can't afford to shut down for 1 week (worse case scenario) you need a new job. You apparently are not making it anyway.
Iceman PLEASE No Violence The last thing we need is to be seen in the public eye as Troublemakers. If the public sees us shutdown and gets behind us we will grab the government attention a lot quicker.

Posted by
Wray
on March 29, 2008 at 8:00 AM

Yea sorry about that WRAY, i'm so out of shape i couldn't even lift a 20 pound cinerblock, it's just sometimes some of these drivers really get me worked up by not sticking together and then i go off and say stupid things. lets get this done guys. APRIL 1,2,3. this coming week.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 29, 2008 at 8:16 AM

I understand your frustration but like i said if we do things the right way the public will see that and they will support us.
Believe me, Everytime i hear people always looking at the negative side i just want to strangle them.

Posted by
Wray
on March 29, 2008 at 8:26 AM

Stick together people!!!! Lets all pull in the same direction and it will go smooth. The Government will have no choice but to listen to the american people when we protest in masses.

Posted by
Wray
on March 29, 2008 at 8:29 AM

"IF NOTHING CHANGES - IT CHANGES NOTHING"

Posted by
Wray
on March 29, 2008 at 8:32 AM

Regarding the "Trucker Shutdown" I'm curious as to whom we are protesting to.The goverment?The oil companies? enviromentalists? The American people? OPEC? brokers? In order for this to be effective it needs to be painful to EVERYONE! Americans have not experienced real pain since the Great Depression. The stores have to empty and fuel tanks have to run dry. Thats the wake up call.The threat of a second stike is when you will get real results.I don't advocate violence but the sad reality is that it's sometimes necessary.The American people have to hurt before you can get them to demand change. 911 brought temporary pain which brought brief unity. April 1st should be massive unified and painful or it will be a waste of time.The public will either laugh or plan ahead by stocking up.

Posted by
robert
on March 29, 2008 at 8:41 AM

OMG,People Whats with all the gloom and doom it a couple of days. ICEMAN chill out take your meds. The the world is not going to spin out of its orbit.
WE have already have achieved our goal NATIONAL ATTENTION, UNITETY BY MANY, now to follow thur, take a couple days off at home, let those that have to run, need to run, let them do what the have to do, it is their RIGHT TO RUN as it is our RIGHT TO SHUT DOWN, THIS IS AMERICA NOT IRAN/IRAQ/CHINA/OR ANY OTHER TOTALATARY COUNTRY!!!
When I turned on my PC as you, my Goggle screen was black I thought what the hell! Clicked on the link, brought me to EARTH DAY 03 29 08, if you are unaware this is a call to action for the WHOLE WORLD to turn off electricity for 1 HOUR! OMG what will I DO......This is our right to do this, I WILL do this. I hope the ICEMANS out there don't bust my head because my house is dark hmmmmmmmmmm

Posted by
charles miller
on March 29, 2008 at 8:59 AM

I drove by BP station an hour ago and the price of Diesel was 4.129 per gallon. When I came back 45 minutes later it was $4.219. Wouldn't it be great if the freight rates went up over 9% in less than an hour.

Posted by
Ralph Harris
on March 29, 2008 at 10:29 AM

I'd love to know how the fuel stations can get away with charging up to 10 cents more a gallon if you use a debit card, cc card ect. Gee, when I get 200 gallons that asshole is making 20 dollars for me using a card. This is complete bullshit, who wants to carry a grand in cash around with them these days. Its not like you can hit the mac and take a grand out. I dont go to sears or the beer store and get charged more for using a card, as a matter of fact there's no other buisnesses that do that to the people. I'm gonna go to our local shithole fuelstop(universal truck stop, Gap pa.) with 900 dollars in singles and laugh my ass off at the attendent counting it.
How about when you are cruising along at 2 in the morning and that damn light turns red with nobody even around. When you have a couple hundred trucks loaded to the hilt getting stopped by this light, thier obviously burning extra fuel to get going again. How hard is it for cities to sync the lights? It's little stuff like this that could help just a little bit but nothing gets done. Our goverment really sucks at running this country. How can that boob in the whitehouse think everything is just fine. I hope that asshole lives the rest of his life embarassed of what he did to OUR country. SHAME ON YOU GEORGE W BUSH!!

Posted by
93pete
on March 29, 2008 at 12:12 PM

we all need to not only to let lawmakers be aware,but the general public as well. with oil companies making record profits,shippers/receivers passing along costs,brokers pulling in profits, seems to me that the only way we as truckers are going to get our point across is to start hitting pocketbooks. a shutdown or at least a major slowdown lasting any significant time should hit pocketbooks across all aspects. we do need to be united in this effort. lets try and get the word out asap. if a person thinks that by continuing to haul for very meager profits,or break even,then it is only a matter of time before they will have to shut their business down anyway.we need to take action while there are still a few bucks in the pocket,rather than after all is lost. i shut down 2 weeks ago while still having some reserve(nearly gone now). along with a shutdown,letters,etc. need to be sent to all govt reps also,media attention is also good. good luck to all

Posted by
bill blair
on March 29, 2008 at 3:15 PM

ITS NOT JUST GWB, IT THE WHOLE PATHTIC LOT IN D.C AND IN THE STATE CAPITALS, FIRE ALL THE DUMB AZZES, PUT THE COMMON PEOPLE BACK IN CONTROL, TAKE THE ORIGINAL CONSITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS, WITH NO AMENDMENTS, AMERICA IS BACK ON TRACK! WHO'S GONNA STOP US! WE OUT NUMBER THEM!
CALL ME CRAZY, NO DON'T BELIVIE IN ANY WACKO CONSIPERCIY THERORIES, DON'T BELONG TO ANY EXSTREMIST GROUP, NOPE JUST YOUR EVERYDAY CITIZEN SEEING THIS GREAT COUNTRY BEING DESTORYED BY CREEDY AND CORUPT PEOPLE. GOD HELP AMERICA!

Posted by
charles miller
on March 29, 2008 at 3:22 PM

I would like to know for sure when this is suppose to take place so we can be prepared for it.

Posted by
Lady Taz
on March 29, 2008 at 5:35 PM

prime inc.said we can't shout down on 1st april,08-april8th,08.this bull we almost $800truck payment and more every $$$$ this really suck u trying to control o/o this not truck company well help others like workin for clition others great companys bigs going to do you right shout down is the best things do for anerican peoples asking truckers to shout down help get oil companys on there necks kiss our ass we could boycott them not buy fuel and next couples weeks.next we get american peoples stop buying P&G,KC,Ford,GM,Wal mart products and brings jobs back to U.S.A.wal mart,kc,p&g loves mexico,china,canada tell get hell out our country this america damm fools.they need to wake up wal mart is destorying and rest of companys support oversea job "cheap labors".Brings america back.damm business owners wake up america could stop buying and shipping made china,mexico,canada,like candys,toys,foods,and rest of cheaps buy real business owners belived in us.God bless everyones and brings jobs back for us not overseas.we great workers here in U.S.A.

Posted by
Lee
on March 29, 2008 at 8:58 PM

this not right at all american trucks drivers spend so much on fuels everyday and brings back $1.50 or $2.50gallons on fuels please.we got familys and great jobs we loves to do drives trucks i been out here for 9yrs man oils companys wake up help us out,why you oils companys trying destory america familys more peoples killing there selfs and losing everythings there happys times.this is greattest U.S.A.gas hurtting my familys and fuel hurtting my job now can't take trip to Hawaii and buying a hummer1 put the my kids in private schools.thanks great web.keep on shout down truckers let on 1April,08-8,April,08.hell let fly to Hawaii for for 2weeks so we could watch Fox News ask where is truck drivers of America we haven fun in sun.No cb radios,brokers,dispatchs,dot.just Hawaii not buying fuels for 2weeks.

Posted by
Lee
on March 29, 2008 at 9:17 PM

being an owner-operator,it is my opinion that a shut-down would have an impact,if it is supported. we need to make our position known to all aspects of the american people. fuel prices,surcharges,low freight rates,all the anti-this or that regulations,these are real-time issues that affect all trucking. if we do not bring recognition of this to the front,then we as truckers have not done our best to solve these problems. if we all unite,then companies could do little in retribution. just maybe washington would "get-it" investers might get nervous,pressures from fuel distributors just might start to complain to big oil,surcharge and broker issues could get attention. fellow truckers,i urge you to join dan little and support the shutdown.if we are too afraid to do anything,then of course nothing will be accomplished. do not just talk,take a stand for once. shut it down,then afterward run totally compliant,leave cheap stuff sit,slow the speed,then if necessary shutdown again.an impact would be felt. just do it what is there to lose. god bless ,bill

Posted by
bill
on March 29, 2008 at 9:37 PM

Please this last one President George W.Bush why are You help us sir and have a lots faith you for long times and your dad greattest presidents and Ronald Regan too great leader.My familys and rest of truck drivers rest world is falling down sir please stand on the white house bring oils pricing down like ronald regan said bring wall down in Germany.please help us sir keep up great work sir it's brings america back.Maybe governments donates free 18wheelers to us working american truck drivers thats lost everythings do fuel prices from oils companys they made millions they free trucks way now.i wish for red KW-T6602008 13speeds no moneys at all free donates i lost everythings and my heart to anymore just things get lot better for me rest of jobs.my kids loves me this only things keep me alive for.anybodys wants to help me this be great i know everythings down i got no kids foods,private schools for my 3yrs,4yrs kids,bills,car payments and cloths for kids child supports fixin losin my CDL soon fuels kill me and trucks leasing$3450 months not fuel with it from my companys every weeks.i'm so sorry everythings i slowing gavin up my life as truck drivers just start with company 3months came from great company Marten Transport 3yrs.if anybodys want to help or donate free Georgia red Kw-t660 13speed150gallons eachside,cb radio,TV,Fridgs 244wheel base so get out leasing try making money get back on feet my dreams truck got no money at all now it's bad times i well others drivers like me.never ask for help.but this Nightclawer from Augusta,Georgia.got 5yrs schneider national,3yrs marten transport.2054 Greene street Augusta,Georgia 30904.this hard time for everyones keep prayers up and God bless.thanks fuel got me tooo.:+(.

Posted by
Lee
on March 29, 2008 at 9:59 PM

about oils companys send me Big $$$$$checks and get me back me on my feets not tax payer moneys well send in may,08 from government.i know this wrong shout down but america folks need our help at home bring fuel,gas,food,downs.I lost everythings last 3months and my familys.good night i hope it well great better soon.keep prayers up folks.

Posted by
Lee
on March 29, 2008 at 10:18 PM

I was ran out of business 2 years ago when fuel cost was what I thought was outrageous! Something needs to be done and pronto. The owner/operators do not stand a chance, however they are the one who can hardly afford to strike! How is that fair. These huge companies can afford to pay for every aspect of the industry, and boy do they have it cornered!

Posted by
arizona slave
on March 30, 2008 at 2:08 AM

So far Dan Little, www.uscattlehaulers.com is the only person calling for a shutdown, that has put his name and contact information up for all to see. This way both supporters, non supporters, the media and the Government officials know who to talk to.

The rest of the dates are being posted by people who will only give CB handles. I have asked in other post's here for them to give us their real names and contact information and I just get called names and threatened with violence. Are those the "anonymous" people that you want to say are your leaders?

Maybe these CB handled folks are not really truckers, but just people who want to cause confusion and unrest among the truckers who want to shutdown.

So for those that want a shut down, I suggest that you go with Dan Little's "ONE DAY VOLUNTARY, NON VIOLENT SHUTDOWN" on April first and just forget about all of the other dates that are being thrown out as "Decoys" to confuse the issue.

Here is a question for those who plan to shutdown on any of the days mentioned. Are you just going home, park the truck and go fishing or are you going to park your trucks in groups at vacant parking lots along the major highways and display banners and carry signs to let the general public know that there is a shutdown in progress?
Or is you plan to just stay home and wait for the stations to run out of fuel and gas and Wal-Mart's shelves to become bare. Then the "Government" can just wonder whats going on.
I have asked this before and received no answer.
WHO are YOU!!!!!, not someone else, YOU, going to meet with during the shut down to negotiate with to get the changes made that you request?
Even in a "for real strike" there are LEADERS from both sides that sit down and work out an agreement. I've yet to hear where any talks to resolve the problems have been held at this time?
It is your right to shut your business down (park your truck) any time that you like. It is not your right to be violent and intimidate others to join you.
It is my prayer that no one gets hurt or killed during this time of unrest and confusion.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 30, 2008 at 2:15 AM

Thank You Dan Little for stepping up and taking a stand we are with you I will be shutting down April 1st no matter where I am at the time, yes it would be nice to be home with my family during that time but it is time everyone stood united this country was built on sacrifice and people today for the most part don't want to make that sacrifice.well I will do it for those that can't (won't). I believe that once the shutdown begins and news of it starts to circulate then people will start joining in because every working man and woman in this great country is getting tired of the cost of living and don't be surprised if we start some type of revolution.Oh yes and Arron I hope you like your .23 cent per mile your making and all the away from home time you get because we will try to improve your quality of life also.UNITED WE STAND THE TIME IS NOW

Posted by
J.Swope
on March 30, 2008 at 2:57 AM

OH, Capt K will you settle down, half the time i can't tell if you for or against this action! HAVE YOU taking the trip around the net to see the support from truckers and non truckers, I'm totally STOKED SUPPORT IS THERE!
The issues are outlined, don't worry SOMEBODY IS OUT THERE willin to step up to the plate to be our spokesperson, either out of true support or just to make a name for themselves. As for the GOVERNMENT let them wonder what the hell is going on, just like we the AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON.....
As for violence, can't stop it, its going to happen, it won't be from truckers for the most part, it will be from the same dumb azzes that are at all the protest around the country, just like on the web,and the CB. HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE NONE, BUT WE ARE AT WAR! War brings death and destruction. BELIEVIE ME, The GOVERNMENT is on edge, this is going to put a hurting on their MACHINE! ITS TIME FOR AMERICANS TO STAND UP AND "RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE"..GOD BLESS AMERICA..

Posted by
charles miller
on March 30, 2008 at 6:39 AM

My husband is an O/O with just one truck. I told him to come home. He won't be hauling any freight on the 1st. There's alot of talk out there that this Shutdown will never happen and won't accomplish a thing. Well, let's make it happen!! One by One. Let's stand United and say NO to these high fuel prices and cheap freight. We have always sat for as long as we have to to get good paying loads and if everyone would do the same thing we may not be having some of the problems that we're facing today! One by One-Stand United-Be Peaceful about it-NO VIOLENCE!!

Posted by
Truckers Wife in OH
on March 30, 2008 at 6:55 AM

In 1974,CBS,NBC,ABC television Networks and its affiliates told the people not to worry about the so called truck strike. They said it was just a bunch of cry baby truck drivers running thier mouths.....The so called mouth runners parked thier trucks in the middle of the Interstate when they run out of fuel and the back-up begun...Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania was backed up for miles on end. Nobody got to where they were going and the food shelf's were getting bare..... Big company trucks were stuck in the middle of the mess and freight,food,gas and oil came to a complete stand still. Ships were backed up in the harbors with no place to unload as the warehouses and fuel tanks were full.........These so called mouth-running truckers had caused the Nations transportation system to come to a complete stand still...Factories had no parts, so industry also shut down...So don't tell me it can't happen as I have seen it before and hope to see it again.....WAKE UP MR.BUSH AND MR CHANEY.. THEM DUMB OLD TRUCK DRIVERS ARE AT IT AGAIN

Posted by
Ralph Harris
on March 30, 2008 at 8:25 AM

For what it's worth.....I would encourage a shutdown April 1st. Our company is taking the week off. We don't haul cheap freight, have slowed down to 55, (YES 55!) and done anything else we can to cut corners. Guess what? We're still going broke. It saddens me that the kind of unity that has always exsisted in this industry is in the toilet. For those of you making a stand THANK YOU. For the gentlemen who spit in my face this morning while I was passing our fliers and those like him I hope you find out that you're broke too, your BIG companies aren't going to back you up forever, they'll just take your money until there's no more to take, then fire you. I don't care if OOIDA isn't behind this I don't have the $40 to pay them anyway. GOD BLESS.

Posted by
TREENA
on March 30, 2008 at 12:04 PM

Forgot, oops, for Capt. Klutterbuck, we are parking our trucks along the highway with signs here in Boise Idaho, we also plan on paying a little visit to the state capital. It may only be ten of us, but some attention to the issues is better then none as far as I'm concerned. My e-mail is treena1@gmail.com. Take care.

Posted by
TREENA
on March 30, 2008 at 12:10 PM

It's about time. About 10 years too late.
But what is the root cause of all of this?
Answer:
Illegal immiagration caused by greedy farmers who don't believe in capitalism, high-tech CEO
s hauling in H-1B foreigners and NAFTA. This has created a huge surplus or un-needed, unwanted labor and equipment. In the truckers casee, everyone is vying for fuel: Americans and spics on U.S. roads. High demand for fuel creates high prices.

Posted by
njattack
on March 30, 2008 at 4:22 PM

The government is trying to break you. They are trying to make us poor and defenseless so they can get the North American Union thru. They have outsourced high tech jobs and have programmars out of work. They have taken construction jobs, etc and given to illegals. What can they do to you? Make driving a truck unaffordable. Get as many of you off the road as they can so they can insist they need the Mexican trucks. We have to fight. The last speeches from Clinton, Obama and McCain made me sick. They are all insisting that we need amnesty and open borders and the NAU altho they won't call it that. We all have to find a way to band together and get Ron Paul elected. He is the only one trying to save America. I doubt that the powers that be will allow him to be elected and if he gets close he will be in danger but we have to do something to stop these 3 candidates and the elites from turning America into a third world country.

Posted by
Myke
on March 30, 2008 at 4:27 PM

Benjamin Franklin said just before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.."We shall hang as one or we will surely be hung seperately"
Let the Tea party begin!

Posted by
donald wayde
on March 30, 2008 at 7:45 PM

Think of what this would mean to everyone else. Everyone is paying higher gas prices, not just truckers. Do you really think shutting down for a week is going to stop them from going up? Get real. They've made so much money off us that they couldn't care less about a week or two without truckers buying gas. They know people have to go back to work sooner or later, and when they do they'll need gas. All this is going to do is make it harder for everyone else to get what they need. That means driving around to find it, using more gas in the process. Nobody can seem to see past their own noses anymore. They don't stop to think how a single mom, a retired couple, or just about any other average person will be able to find and afford what they need to keep their families going. Unless and until the people controlling the prices develope a conscience, nothing is going to change.

Posted by
Jamie
on March 30, 2008 at 8:22 PM

I dont drive a Truck... but my best friend works for a small Trucking Company... these fuel prices are killing them, they will be lucky to stay in bussiness. The Truckers are not the only ones that these prices are affecting... They hurt EVERYONE!!! The Truckers are in a unique postion to actually DO something about it!!!! I fully support the Shutdown on April 1st & I pray that there will be no violence. God Bless all of you who roll your tires & keep this country supplied with everything we need & THINK we need!!! Wishing all of you a successful shutdown, please know that you have alot of support here in UT>

Posted by
Linda Fletcher
on March 30, 2008 at 8:39 PM

you hit the nail rite on the head jamie.hear it is 2 days from the shut down and drivers still dont know what day it is.some 4-1-08 others are saying in may?.if your going to shut down at least do it on the same day.as for me.im not.i dont haul cheap freight and i wont haul without a fsc that covers my fuel.and im doing ok.im not putting my costomers out because others dont whatch there bottom line

Posted by
clayton
on March 30, 2008 at 8:40 PM

I'm a deisel mechanic at bluegrass tire and truck repair in Franklin, KY, and I support this April 1st strike. You drivers are crazy for doing the job you all do. I can't understand what kind of person is insane enough to drive these interstates with the idiotic four wheelers zooming inbetween rigs, slamming on breaks infront of you, and trying to race you down the onramps just to get ahead of you all. Your a special breed and I could never do your job, I can't fathom being away from my family for extended periods of time, and you truckers do it every day for a crappy wage. On April the first do not enter this repair establishment if your an owner operator, because I will not fix your truck for you. To me this is a job I need and only get paid on commission, but all O/O's will not have their trucks worked on by me. You truckers are the backbone of America, and it's about time you get a little appreciation and pay for your long hours and high costs of repairs, fuel, and permit costs you pay. Lower the cost of fuel, get higher fuel surcharge rates, and have congress enact a bill to make brokers disclose the load rates. Good luck, The guy with the cane.

Posted by
The guy with the can
on March 30, 2008 at 9:10 PM

Good luck strikers, you deserve better wages and lower fuel prices.

Posted by
The guy with the can
on March 30, 2008 at 9:23 PM

The one thing i find amazing here is all the talk about shutting down ..........all some of you can say is lets make the american people hurt...For one what you genuis'arent looking at is the companies will not shut down so therefore the american people will not do without anything..........you dumb asses will just be without a job.... and you will just succeed in providing more runs and more freight for company drivers.......so unless you can get all company drivers to join you also all your doing is making your selfs look like bigger jack asses then you normaly do.

Posted by
whatajoke
on March 30, 2008 at 9:33 PM

For what I, (The guy with the cane) previously stated is my own personal belief, and can not be taken as my fellow mechanics or employers views, because I don't know their stance on the situation yet. What I can say on behalf of the company is that we pray their will be no violence, and wish all the best to the American Trucker.

Posted by
The guy with the can
on March 31, 2008 at 2:06 AM

So now I understand how this works! It's the same way the military works. They send a whole bunch of troops with guns into a "place", with no plans what so ever.
When the troops get there and the random shooting starts, Eventually someone will stand up and say "OK GUYS, I WANT TO BE THE LEADER". Now that is what I'm understanding about the shut down.

Dan Little has stepped up and declared himself the leader of a "ONE DAY, VOLUNTARY, NON VIOLENT SHUTDOWN".
Dan must not be your leader because on here I'm hearing a lot of other dates, and a call for violence. So when the shooting starts, someone will just step up to the TV Camera and say "YES SIR, I'M THE LEADER AND RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS VIOLENCE"
I do hope that you are just agitators and not really members of the trucking industry.
I spoke with a tanker driver a few minutes ago. He knew nothing about a shut down.
I've asked 3 truck stop managers if they had heard any talk and all said, my conversation was the first that they had heard.
YouR publicity committee is laying down on the job. From Louisville, KY to Saint Louis, MO yesterday, I did not see one flyer or hear any word of the shutdown on the CB. The truck stop chatter was the daily topics, lot lizzards, the right to idle with pets, and the right to carry guns in trucks, not one word of shutdown. This was in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.

Yes, you have a great following on the internet and in some local areas. Some of the news media is covering Dan's shutdown. But I fail to see wide spread coverage or support.
Shut down for as along as you like, but please do not be violent. Let the rest of us run our business.
I think it was Charles who was not sure where I stand.
In an earlier post on this site, I made it very clear.
"I think that, like past attempts at shutdowns and strikes, this one is poorly organized and lacking leadership. This time you cannot even agree on one date or time period to shutdown.
I support your right to shut YOUR business down for as long as you like. But I do not support your calls for violence or to force others to support your cause.
When fuel is $1.00 a gallon and everyone is guaranteed a minimum of $4.00 a mile, which I'm sure you will accomplish by Friday at the latest, then I will be back here to admit that I was wrong and you were successful and I should not have doubted your powers.
If you want to be violent, please call your local army recruiter this morning and volunteer for Iraq. They are looking for a few good men and women.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 31, 2008 at 5:24 AM

So now I understand how this works! It's the same way the military works. They send a whole bunch of troops with guns into a "place", with no plans what so ever.
When the troops get there and the random shooting starts, Eventually someone will stand up and say "OK GUYS, I WANT TO BE THE LEADER". Now that is what I'm understanding about the shut down.

Dan Little has stepped up and declared himself the leader of a "ONE DAY, VOLUNTARY, NON VIOLENT SHUTDOWN".
Dan must not be your leader because on here I'm hearing a lot of other dates, and a call for violence. So when the shooting starts, someone will just step up to the TV Camera and say "YES SIR, I'M THE LEADER AND RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS VIOLENCE"
I do hope that you are just agitators and not really members of the trucking industry.
I spoke with a tanker driver a few minutes ago. He knew nothing about a shut down.
I've asked 3 truck stop managers if they had heard any talk and all said, my conversation was the first that they had heard.
YouR publicity committee is laying down on the job. From Louisville, KY to Saint Louis, MO yesterday, I did not see one flyer or hear any word of the shutdown on the CB. The truck stop chatter was the daily topics, lot lizzards, the right to idle with pets, and the right to carry guns in trucks, not one word of shutdown. This was in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.

Yes, you have a great following on the internet and in some local areas. Some of the news media is covering Dan's shutdown. But I fail to see wide spread coverage or support.
Shut down for as along as you like, but please do not be violent. Let the rest of us run our business.
I think it was Charles who was not sure where I stand.
In an earlier post on this site, I made it very clear.
"I think that, like past attempts at shutdowns and strikes, this one is poorly organized and lacking leadership. This time you cannot even agree on one date or time period to shutdown.
I support your right to shut YOUR business down for as long as you like. But I do not support your calls for violence or to force others to support your cause.
When fuel is $1.00 a gallon and everyone is guaranteed a minimum of $4.00 a mile, which I'm sure you will accomplish by Friday at the latest, then I will be back here to admit that I was wrong and you were successful and I should not have doubted your powers.
If you want to be violent, please call your local army recruiter this morning and volunteer for Iraq. They are looking for a few good men and women.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on March 31, 2008 at 5:24 AM

Today is decision day for many, 1 final day until the supposed strike start date.
The American People will see real quickly who has the intestinal fortitude to carry through with their demands. It is unfortunate that many will squander there rights, and return to the meager jobs, trying to make decent living for their families. Either the American Trucker will band together as a United Front, or we will all fail separately, and deservedly so.. After being in the last three strikes, I find this strike is the most important of all. The Oil companies, and our Government need to hear our voices. They need to hear the voices of those families, and individuals who will go hungry if something isn't done.
Make your voice heard. Unite now, or cower down like a weak dog under the influence of the Oil Cartels The choice is yours. AMERICA WAITS TO SEE WHICH SIDE ARE YOUR ON?

Posted by
texasbushwacker
on March 31, 2008 at 6:18 AM

Iam an independent o/o why should i shut down and give my freight to one of the big companys never to get it back

Posted by
loosewheel
on March 31, 2008 at 10:50 AM

Get back to work all of you truckers!

Posted by
Joe
on March 31, 2008 at 11:40 AM

More News and other links -
http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8085319
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/17145751.html
http://www.trentongasprices.com/Forum_MSG.aspx?master=1&category=1172&topic=282353&page_no=1
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/el-paso-times/T6PSRF7CKU14BN8IN/p2

Posted by
george wilkins
on March 31, 2008 at 12:17 PM

Personally, I think a shutdown could have a positive effect for all of us drivers.BUT, shutting down for just one day is not going to cure the problem. Planners, brokers and dispatchers can plan around one day. If you want to hurt them where it counts. Then you're gonna have to do it for multiple and consecutive days. Preferrably more than 34 hrs also. Im a owner operator leased to a company. They have raised our fuel surcharge once in the last month and a half. BS if you asked me. I truely feel we can get their attention, but it's gonna take a strong committment from everyone,.

Posted by
Smokestack
on March 31, 2008 at 12:47 PM

because loosewheel its about making the industry a better industry, it's not about WELL I HAVE GOOD FREIGHT SO FUCK EVERYONE ELSE, I HAVE GOOD FREIGHT SO I'M NOT SHUTTING DOWN. SCREW THEM TRUCKERS!!! you see guys this is whats wrong with the industry. thats so sad.

Posted by
ICEMAN
on March 31, 2008 at 12:50 PM

SHUT DOWN APRIL 1ST NO JOKE SHUTDOWN SHUTDOWN SHUTDOWN SHUTDOWN, THIS IS THE CLOSEST ITS COME IN YEARS. YOU SAY YOU CANT AFFORD TO SHUT DOWN, YOU CANT AFFORD NOT TO. I KNOW PEOPLE WORKING AT MC DONALDS THAT MAKE MORE THAN YOU GUYS AFTER YOUR EXPENSES!!! GET IT TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS

Posted by
richard
on March 31, 2008 at 12:55 PM

I am a retired trucker. Organize, shut down for at least 7 days straight, and you will rule the roost, if you do not organize and work together a 24 hr. shutdown is a waste of time. Don't think this won't have an affect on all of us and something has to be done, not only are you guys having a rough time but so are the retired people, but you have a lot of support from all of us, and the ball is in your park, so go for it guys.

Posted by
D B Huth
on March 31, 2008 at 1:42 PM

I am a female 38 years old, was a truck driver for 2 years before I had my son. I support this whole heartedly. Some big changes need to come our way in order to make changes in the lives of the working men and women in the United States of America. Everyone needs to get out of their little boxes and take a stand for our own best interests. Our ancestors would turn over in the graves if they could see how SOFT Americans have become as a society. Maybe its time we stop being SOFT and get tough. If we do not do this for ourselves and take control of our own world - I guarantee you that somewhere down the not to distant road we will have someone else continuing to control us.
REMEMBER THIS:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
AND FURTHER....
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.* That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,*--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.*
Don't you all think that it is in our best interest to make a change for our best interest in a government that NO LONGER is representative of the MAJORITY of the working people of America....
Our government has become destructive...so it is our right to ALTER, to ABOLISH, to INSTITUTE A NEW GOVERNMENT!!!
Our forefathers stated this in the Declaration of Independence...the foundation of our country!!!!

Posted by
Tracy
on March 31, 2008 at 1:52 PM

so ice man me loosing my dedicated customer to a big fleet and your foul language is whats going to help the industry who are you a jb hunt recruiter

Posted by
loosewheel
on March 31, 2008 at 2:39 PM

and by the way olmighty ice man i beleave i asked why i should shutdown never siad i wouldnt. and all you can do is cus someone you dont even know THAT IS WHAT IS SAD

Posted by
loosewheel
on March 31, 2008 at 2:47 PM

The thing that makes me made is.The trucking ind.is the most powerful ind. in this country.We can bring this country to its knees and other ones with it.IF they can't getthe oil to the suppliers they can't sell it.Overseas containers would rot at the ports.Swift laid off over 1400 drivers last week.How long before your company goes.They can't afford to pay your 401k healh ins. workmans comp.vacatoins.you will see drastic paycuts and a lot more.SO if you think this is only going hurt the o/o dont you dare try to get into my box when you end up in that alley with me.I am an o/o and i am heading there in a hurry.With fuel like this no job is safe. FIREPLUG LANC.OH

Posted by
GARY BOALS
on March 31, 2008 at 3:07 PM

Watched the local news this evening and saw a shitload of trucks driving around the state capital in harrisburg pa. blowing thier horns and protesting on the steps of the capital. Awesome job drivers!!! Hillary & the long legged mac daddy(Obama) rolled through harrisburg today and i'm sure they were aware of the situation. The only thing that bothered me was the fact that wgal made it out to be all about taking our 32cent a gallon tax off the pump price. That will never happen, they missmanage all that money on our horrible roads. People will see this on the news and not give a shit because everything they buy is way more expensive, and they think it's because of drivers getting more money for fuel. What they dont realize is that most of us don't see the money. These scumbag brokers need to be REGULATED, just like we are by the dot. I've honestly had a reputable person show me a bid sheet for a big name ice cream place and the bids were around 4.00 a mile, fuel was also around 2.50 when I saw these numbers. Somewhere along the line somebody is pocketing some serious fucking money at our expense.

Posted by
93pete
on March 31, 2008 at 3:39 PM

I am a broker an i can honestly say that most of the freight i move i make 25.00 on. Some 50.00 an the highest 100.00 witch isnt very often. My shippers refuse to pay a FSC an i ask for it every week. They dont want to raise there rates but have given in a little over the past few weeks. We also own trucks an we are feeling the cost increases as much as anyone else. I dont know where this strike may go, but to lower fuel prices isnt going to happen. WQe need to get rates up an get the damn FSC we deserve. Im sure all of you have had to hire a lumper an are seeing what their getting by with with unloading charges more than the truck makes. I say if the shippers can pay a lumper what ever he wants to charge to unload a truck that FSC charges can be paid as well. What i think is do away with lumpers all together, let thses companies hire more people to work their docks an unload their own freight an give us the truckers the damn lumper money an FSC an maybe we could get back to doing our job witch is moving the freight an putting some money back in our homes an back in out trucks,. Im sure some will dissaggree with me but i have said what i think. Thank You guys that pull for me an i support you an hope all will work out for all of us.

Posted by
charles
on March 31, 2008 at 3:56 PM

yeah i like the we have to quit running or else bs.i worked very hard to get my accounts and keep my rates up.ice man nothing changes .when this is all over you will surely go back to hauling your cheap freight and that`s what is really wrong with this industry.you haul down south for 2.00-2.50 a mile and you haul back for 1.05-1.25 per mile.if you haven`t figured it out by now.you never will.i know,how bout haul down for 3.05-3.75 and you can bounce back til you find a decent haul back.you know some of us have already made sacrifices.now we have you wanting government to regulate trucking.isn`t that a hoot.all that said i will gladly let you do what you think is best for your interest but i would hope you could give me the same respect.i`m not going to risk losing my accounts for your cause.and please don`t tell my you are doing this for me,the government already has too much control over my life,as is.so just do this for yourself and those who support it.

Posted by
racehorse
on March 31, 2008 at 3:58 PM

thanks racehorse good statement with no foul langage good luck driver

Posted by
loosewheel
on March 31, 2008 at 4:09 PM

I am 14 years old, and i think everyone should shut down. The price of the fuel is making me mad. I cant go shopping anymore, and i cant have any electricity without using a generator, and i cant fix my golf cart. My daddy isnt making enought money anymore. He plans to join in with the shutdown, and i hope something will good comes out of it. If not, we all might as well buy a horse and wagon and live the indians used to. thank you =] and good luck =]
flat broke
winn, ME

Posted by
Patricia Pascale
on March 31, 2008 at 4:47 PM

Hey charles, I didnt mean all brokers just the poopie(for loosewheel) ones like them rear-end holes(for loosewheel) ch robinson and all them mother flippin(for loosewheel) cooperate type brokers who probally have some poopie head(for loosewheel) lobbyist in washington making sure it stays the way it is. I do some of my loads through someone just like you and I have to say that they take pretty good care of the drivers, but you and I both know there is some drivers out there that are having thier stupidity taken advantage of by brokers. dogarnit its hard not to use foul language to stress your points of view!

Posted by
93pete
on March 31, 2008 at 4:55 PM

tnks charles you stressed your piont well and remained professional as far as the poophead brokers go say NO TO CHEAP FREIGHT

Posted by
loosewheel
on March 31, 2008 at 5:14 PM

Anyone who owns a truck,,,,shut them down!!!!!!!!!!!
A message needs to be sent to the fuel producers, and the government that grinding all of our livelihoods, families, our hopes and dreams into the ground threw ridicules fuel prices is not just going to break us alone, but is a national security issue at the core.
When milk is ten dollars a gallon, there is no clothing at Wal-mart, there is no fuel at the gas stations, and no food at the grocery stores, people will start to scream. There are more important issues than politics!!! There are national economic disasters looming on the horizon. The housing bale out is just one. The economy survives on the commodities that are freighted across its lands.
I am a private owner/operator that will shut down rather than go on making the fuel companies richer, and allowing the government to ignore and burry their heads in the sand hoping the problem goes away. Deregulation started this and regulation has to be put back in place to regulate fair profits for the fuel companies, and make them more competitive. And doing so will force government to ease the regulations that govern the building of new refineries, and force them to keep the price down.
If Venezuelans can produce a gallon of gas for 50 cents and then sell it at a profit at $1.00, does that mean we have such different refining practices? I don’t think so. Profits and greed are driving this. Do not be fooled into believing the fuel industries lies about costs. There are some Companies who are buying gas and diesel already refined from unfriendly nations and this has to be stopped!!!!!!!
Shut down!!!!, be part of the “Idle America Movement” for two weeks April 14th threw the 28th

Posted by
Randy
on March 31, 2008 at 9:01 PM

CHECK OUT THE DAT BOARD IN THE TRUCK STOPS, SAYS NATIONWIDE SHUTDOWN APRIL 1ST TIL 8TH, TRUCKERS BLOCK FUEL PUMPS. WOW, NOW THE BIG COMPANYS, JB, SWIFT, SCHNEIDER CANT EVEN MOVE AND THATS A BROKER POSTING THOSE COMMENTS. THIS THING WILL HAPPEN!!!!!!

Posted by
richard
on March 31, 2008 at 10:05 PM

I'm a retired trucker and want to let all you guys know I'm behind the strike %100. I have a plan and I sent it off to the American Truckers Association. I haven't heard anything back from them...........so for what it's worth here it is:
You don't have to necessarily shut down for an extended period of time.............all you need to do is show Washington that you CAN shut down....that you have the support of the drivers. First ...contact Washinton to let them know your concerns and plan a strike (shutdowm) at a certain date at a certain time for maybe 6 hours or so. and then follow through with the shutdown. Then bring it to their attention that you have the power to shut down for longer periods of time.Continue this process......each time for an extended length of time. It is my feeling that the owner ops want to shut down to bring about reasnoable fuel prices like every one else but they still have to make the payments. With my plan they won't be shutting down for long periods of time. You could call it a "slow down" The products will get delivered but the powers that be will see that you have the power and the support to stop or at least slow down the movement of goods across the country.
May the Good Lord be with you on this one.

Posted by
handlebar
on April 1, 2008 at 4:02 AM

To Randy-Do you have a problem with the 1st-8th. Everyone else is agreeing to these dates and you want the 14th-28th...We're doing this now!!!

Posted by
J and B Trucking
on April 1, 2008 at 4:18 AM

I am and have been shutdown since 3/28 and will remain shutdown till 4/7! This thing is happening now! Let's get this done!

Posted by
Bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 5:44 AM

Trucks rolled to the Pennsylvania state capitol yesterday and are shutting down today for at least 3 days. If you are not prepared for this April 1st date, then you haven't been paying attention. This has been the date for the past month on the east coast, I have also heard this was the date all the way to Denver last week! At any rate, make the move, make the sacrifice and just shut it down. Three days wont devastate anyone!

Posted by
Bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 5:54 AM

CNN SAYS THEY CONTACTED THE 3 BIGGEST O/O ASS. AND THEY ALL SAID ALL THOUGH THEY UNDERSTAND WHY THE TRUCKERS ARE TALKING STRIKE , THEY ARE NOT SAYING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF THEY ARE BACKING THEM. WOW!!! AND A LOT OF TRUCKERS PAY FEES TO BE IN AN ASS. WHO WON'T SUPPORT THEM. QUIT PAYING THE FEES AND SEE WHAT THEY DO.

Posted by
c schafer
on April 1, 2008 at 6:24 AM

We can't trust any of the major news media to give this fair coverage. They sleep with the same people we are protesting. The only way we will know this is working is when we see the truckstops remaining full and fewer trucks on the road. Alternative news media will probably give us the best coverage (gcnlive.com is good).

Posted by
bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 6:38 AM

Owner Operator here. You know with all this talk about a soon to be strike you'd figure the news stations would be all over it. Well I haven't even heard a small thing on the news about our plans. I don't think they got the memo. we need to do, and stick with it. Not to cripple our economy (it's crippled enough), but to try to end up on the positive side for once.

Posted by
TheGreatMilenko
on April 1, 2008 at 7:06 AM

CNN Headline news just gave us a blurb a few minutes ago. After reading between the news media lines and lies for the past 15 years, it sounds to me like they have shut down in the Dallas area. You CANNOT expect to get good info from the mainsteam news! They automatically assume that we would use them to check our own progress. Evidently thier assumption is correct. Our agenda is not inline with thiers. Why do you think our nation is in so much trouble. We do watch too much TV! Shut them down and don't watch the mainstream media unless you can effectively read what they are really saying! God bless us all! And good luck!

Posted by
Bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 7:25 AM

OOIDA DOES NOT SUPPORT A STRIKE, THEY CANT BY GOVERNMENT LAWS. THAT SHOUL UPSET ALOT OF SUPPORTERS, WE NEED ANOTHER HOFFA.. FOX NEWS REPORTS SHUTDOWN WILL HAPPEN, TRUCKS DOING 30 MILES PER HOUR IN MAJOR CITIES AND BLOCKING FUEL PUMPS

Posted by
richard
on April 1, 2008 at 7:50 AM

Let's keep each other updated with any GOOD ACCURATE information we find. There are trucks shut down in Oklahoma City for example. These guys are away from home and we need to give them and all of the others out there all of the support and info we can. I will be bouncing from site to site and checking news and local truck stops for the duration.

Posted by
bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 8:06 AM

foxnews.com reports that truckers have their hazard lights on and are slowing traffic up. good. =-)

Posted by
latane
on April 1, 2008 at 8:21 AM

FOX NEWS REPORTED THAT TRUCKERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA ARE SHUT DOWN.

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 1, 2008 at 8:33 AM

I HEARD ON ANOTHER BLOG THAT THEY ARE ASKING ANYONE THAT SUPPORTS TO PUT A RED BOW ON THEIR DRIVER SIDE MIRROR.

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 1, 2008 at 8:36 AM

That is great news! Our hats should be off to these drivers!! It's happening! Let's all do our part! Let's prove that we truckers can do this together!! WOW!! Keep the info from all around the country flowing!!

Posted by
bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 8:36 AM

O/O IN CENTRAL FL ALSO STOPPED. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 1, 2008 at 8:44 AM

We agree as an Owner operator,husband and wife team we have long been on the loosing end of this business. The profits are visable,the freight is plentiful and there are no shortage of drivers, but, there is an overabundance of people who have high salaries and are well paid to tell us every reason why we can't make a decent living to support our families. Yet they come to work everyday,sit in their offices and go home each night without a care in the world.Even though they are directly or indirectly a part of our struggle, their income is not affected.When brokers cut the cost of a load or thake a higher percentage of the rat the load pay just to secure the money they require but not take into account the person who makes the income possible,or the the large trucking companies that have to much overhead(employees,terminals,trucks with no driver for them ,ect)we the drivers who are out there must suffer. Well we've had enough and we are parking our truck. My company that I'm leased to just called me this morning and asked me to do them a (favor)and we all know what that term means,will I take another loss for them and I told them No I don't care if I am the only truck in the area.I am staying parked for now. What's the difference in loosing money at home or loosing out on the road broke is broke.Excuse the punctuation errors and misspellings, I'm a driver not a journalist. But I think my point is well stated, Im with my brother truckers (PARK UM' NOW )

Posted by
cartrell
on April 1, 2008 at 8:49 AM

To TRUCKERS WIFE and others who wish to help! I would think any one can help by simply watching the news for any info too pass on, listen and pass what we can over the CB, encourage anyone who is with us. We need good info from all around the country. Numbers would be great if we can get them and any local activity that we can report. There are several sites on the web to watch and check. Pass on only good and accurate info. Let's keep this clean and honest! Thanks to all from us all!

I am now a broker. I was a fleet owner and drove 48 states for a long time. I posted dates on the dat load boards in the truck stops across the country. The company I am with is not responsible for my comments. This was my support for the drivers. I have the best drivers around and will work for them anyway I can. owner operators are MY CUSTOMERS. congratulation's gentlemen. you are making a statement. you are being heard

Great news on the 70 O/O at the Port of Tampa and the convoy through Atlanta!! Thanks for the great job!!
Does anybody else have any numbers or news?

Posted by
Bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 9:25 AM

THERE ARE ALOT OF TRUCKS PULLED OVER AT THE REST STOP IN POLK COUNTY, FL. THE ONES THAT R NOT R SAY THEY WILL BE RUNNING AT TOP SPEED OF 45 ON ALL INTERSTATE.

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 1, 2008 at 9:33 AM

I am an o/o and am in support of my brother truckers , The high price of fuel , plates, taxes ,etc. we need to shutdown and shut down now. I live in Pa , and have seen a few trucks but no were as many on the roads . This will only work if WE ALL stick together!!!!I will not move , I can't afford to move at this rate!!!!

Posted by
Big Al
on April 1, 2008 at 9:39 AM

Slowing down is good, also. Maybe we can keep this multi faceted! Maybe we could circulate or place something in windows or on the side of our trucks to let the public know what is going on! Let's get some more four wheeler support. Something simple like ACTION FOR LOWER FUEL PRICES!" Thanks again!!

Posted by
Bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 9:42 AM

My truck is parked at MP 319, US97, WA. Anyone else in the area, stop in for coffee. Yes, CNN is reporting on the hearings in DC about Oil Company subsidized with 18 BILLION over the next 10 years. Government wants cleaner emissions? Take that same money and help us independants get new equipment. We don't have the buying power of the larger trucking companies. The top five oil companies reported a combined profit of 25 Billion, IN ONE QUARTER. Do they really need that money. Another case of our elected officials helping the rich get richer at the expense of the everyday worker. CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS! GET THAT 18 BILLION SHIFTED TO THE INDEPENDANT TRUCKERS. AND THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE TAKING PART.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 1, 2008 at 9:42 AM

Thats good news from MP319!! Thanks!! Keep us all posted on any local happenings if you can! God bless you!

Posted by
bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 9:55 AM

I support you truckers 100 percent! I hope I see a whole bunch of semis parked on the side of the road, or driving really slow today. What has made this country great is when we all stand together. I'm telling everyone to put a red bow on their mirrors! Go get 'em, big rigs!!!!!

Posted by
RubberDuck
on April 1, 2008 at 9:56 AM

SOMETHING FOR THE 4 WHEELER TO TAKE PART. ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING PUT A RED BOW ON UR DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. U COULD ALSO PUT A SIGN ON WHAT THE BOW STANDS FOR THAT WAY OTHERS WILL KNOW AND PICK UP ON IT.

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 1, 2008 at 9:59 AM

A RED BOW & A SIGN!! That will work!! Just got news from Hampton, VA and Baltimore, MD. Port terminal traffic is down 90% or more!! LET'S ROCK!!

Posted by
Bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 10:06 AM

Hello Truckers!
I just wanted to let you know that I support you. Gas prices have gotten out of control for everyone- I can't even imagine how hard it has become for you. Thank you for delivering the products that we use everyday- I appreciate it.
Good luck!

My husband is a trucker, so I have been following the articles about the shut down. I agree that a shutdown needs to happen. But I keep reading about different dates. You all need to pick one date and stick to it. April 1st was the date first put out that the shutdown was going to happen. Most people expected it to happen today. Since it didn't happen as expected, do you really think that the government is going to take you seriously with the next date that you put out? Unfortunately you guys talked a good game, but when push come to shove you didn't follow through with the shut down. You blew it guys. No one is going to listen to the talk next time.

Posted by
sheila
on April 1, 2008 at 10:36 AM

To Shiela: You must be watching the mainsteam media. This thing is started and can only grow through support! I don't think we have blown anything! We have reports of Port terminal traffic being down over 90% in Hampton,Va and Baltimore. Trucks shut down at the port of Tampa, Oklahpma City, Dallas, Tx. A slow rolling convoy through Atlanta, Ga. To name a few! This thing is just starting. There are alot of drivers out there who will shut down once they realize they are not alone! By the way, Is your husbund shutting down? We need support not negative comments. Please read the posts here and at other sites.

Posted by
Bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 10:53 AM

I have 6 owner operators leaving houston heading to penn. AT 40 MILES PER HOUR, YOU GO BOYS, I'M HEADED TO THE TRUCK STOP WITH A BANNER, SEE YA

Posted by
richard
on April 1, 2008 at 11:03 AM

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Truckers protesting high fuel prices are clogging the New Jersey Turnpike.
Turnpike Authority spokesman Joe Orlando says trucks "as far as the eye can see" are driving about 20 mph and heading south near Exit 14 in Newark.
He says truckers are also chanting and protesting at the Vince Lombardi Service Area in Bergen County.
Orlando says the protest is backing up Turnpike traffic.
Truckers

Posted by
grnbaygirl4
on April 1, 2008 at 11:04 AM

Thanks for the CNN link, Trucker Jim! Typical mainstream media propoganda. They are relying on us to use them to measure our success! This is what we must read through! The simple fact that they give it any coverage at all is proof that it is working. Disinformation may be a better word! Thanks again!

Posted by
bullwinkle
on April 1, 2008 at 11:04 AM

JUST TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW I HAVE BEEN CALLING ALL MY TRUCKER FRIENDS AND FINDING SOME ARE SHUTDOWN AND SOME CLAIM THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO. I LET THEM KNOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO SHUTDOWN.OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY PAYING THEM? I LIVE IN TEXAS WERE FUEL IS NOT THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION AND I STILL AM STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THIS BUSINESS. DRIVERS PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY WE ARE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY. DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT'S TO LATE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TAKE A STAND NOW !!!!!!
SHUTDOWN AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. WE ALL HAVE BILLS AND NEED FOOD.THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS US ALL BE PART OF THE SOLUTION NOT THE PROBLEM. (PARK IT NOW)YOU WON'T HAVE ANYLESS THAN YOU DID LAST WEEK. OR YOU WERE ALREADY IN TROUBLE THEN.

Posted by
cartrell
on April 1, 2008 at 11:22 AM

I'm not a trucker but I AM 100% behind you.
You can make a difference for us all.
There's no need for these high prices, only greed at the top and it's got to STOP!

Posted by
angel
on April 1, 2008 at 11:31 AM

There are dozens of shutdown web sites. Checking them out, one thing rings through. WE HAVE SUPPORT, AND WE WILL BE HEARD!!! Prior to USCattlehaulers.com coming out for the April 1st Date, The enough is enough campaign was started for a May 1st shutdown. Time to get the word out. My hats off to Dan Little for getting the April 1st date out, and generating the interest. I have not been talking about the May 1st date any longer for one reason, unity. Backed off stop any confusion, and it seems to have helped. To all those that have email me, thanks. I have done anything I can to get just ONE date solidified. The only thing that distrubs me is CNN reporting there seems to be no single target. For me, the only target is the government and their lack or responsible law making. The economic forcasters are like weather forcasters. Raining outside, and they are saying it's sunny. Agian, Thanks to all who are supporting. PS, Want to stop by, email me and I will tell you where the parking is. Got the coffee pot going!

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 1, 2008 at 11:47 AM

Email is Shoestring1@hotmail.com.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 1, 2008 at 11:49 AM

DIVIDE WE FALL...We have to stand united together. Too many truckers are out there that will work for next to nothing. Wake Up!!! You are hurting your own self in the long run. When this is said and done only the united will survive. The end will come. God bless and Keep on Trucking...

DRIVERS WAKE UP OR ARE YOU NOT CONSERNED OR JUST FEEL LIKE AS LONG AS YOU ROLL A LOAD YOU'LL BE O.K. HAS YOUR WIFE OR HUSBAND BEEN TO THE FUEL STOP OR GAS STATION LATLEY ? BECAUSE I HAVE. I HAVE A TRUCK TO KEEP FUEL IN AND CARS
TO KEEP GASED UP AND BILLS TO PAY,FOOD TO BUY SOUNDS JUST LIKE YOUR LIFE RIGRT? I'M NOT BROKE BUT I DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE WITH BLINDERS ON EITHER.TIME TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE BIG WIGS WHO HAVE NO CLUE WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST AND FURTHER MORE THEY DON'T CARE.(YOU COMPANY DRIVER) WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL YOUR KIDS WHEN YOUR CUSHEY JOB TELLS YOU THEY ARE SHUTTING DOWN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN ANYMORE? WAKE UP YOU HAVE NO MORE SECURITY THAN US OWNER/OP's DO THE RIGHT THING STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.IF YOU THINK YOUR AHEAD JUST LOOK AT YOUR FINANCES.AND YOUR PAY AND ASK YOURSELF WHEN YOU GOT YOUR LAST RAISE OR HOW LONG ARE COMPANIES KEEPING YOU OUT THERE. IT ALL SO THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY NOT YOU.DRIVERS THE FEW DOLLARS YOU MAKE FOR LONG HOURS AND DAYS AWAY FROM HOME.(HERE'S AN IDEA) CALL IN SICK AND NOT MAKE A FEW DOLLARS THAT REALLY WON'T HELP YOU ANYWAY.IF JUST 100 DRIVERS DID THIS THINK OF THE IMPACT IT WOULD MAKE.HAVE YOU HAD TO TELL SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. THEN ASK WHY NOT YOU HAVE A GOOD JOB (RIGHT)
OR DO YOU?

Posted by
cartrell
on April 1, 2008 at 12:28 PM

Can't afford to shutdown? CNN just interviewed a driver. His load pays $700, and will take two days to deliver. Paid $500 for fuel, $25 for trailer wash out so they would load him, and that did not include his reefer fuel. Talk about hauling cheap freight!!! Wake up, this guy is still running why? Can't afford it? I wouldn't even start my truck for that cheap load. He will be broke soon enough.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 1, 2008 at 12:44 PM

To anyone who is available-we need to take some food-hot coffee-water out to these guys that are sitting out at the Ports etc... where there are no facilities available to them. Or did they prepare themselves?? Let people know....
What's going on in OH? My husband is here at home and we haven't anything.....

Posted by
Ohio Truckers Wife
on April 1, 2008 at 1:45 PM

Heard on sirius road dog that 4 dump trucks with us flags draped on thier trucks took up 4 lanes on the Jersey pike going 10mph but then got pulled over by state troopers. I applaud these guys for having the balls to do this. Look for me tommorow around 3am rolling down 95 south through maryland and virginia I will have my hazzard lights on and be doin about 40mph, hopefully you won't notice me because of other trucks doing the same thing. Im headed to the garage to make a sign for my truck, something that will let americans know that thier prices are going up and the money never sees most drivers pockets. later ps Im not hauling cheap freight tommorow or anyday.

Posted by
93pete
on April 1, 2008 at 1:55 PM

100% SUPPORT from this grandma/former driver. I won't be purchasing any fuel until it's over. Listen to the ole timers. Stick together, go 7 days at the least, call your congress & make 'em hold it till they piss thier pants. I'll be the little ole granny passin' out the biscuts on the side of the road if thats what we have to do. It's long past time.

Posted by
Lambchops
on April 1, 2008 at 1:59 PM

I am not a trucker, but a friend is. I SUPPORT this effort 100%. IF you guys need help please post a website so we can donate and what we can do to help the American Truckers!

Posted by
Bill_fogarty
on April 1, 2008 at 2:24 PM

Truckers, Huddle together and post or have someone post for you where you are & what you need (food, supplies, ect. make a list.) Let's everybody get together and take care of who is closest to us. If you see some drivers in need, offer a hand. This is the way we can make change come about.

Posted by
Lambchops
on April 1, 2008 at 2:26 PM

GREAT JOB KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. TO ALL WHO CARE. PASS THE WORD.THIS THING IS REAL AND IT'S HAPPENING NOW NOT WEEKS FROM NOW WHEN IT'S TO LATE WE HAVE TO ACT NOW OR GO BROKE.READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF US ALL.TAKE THE BLINDERS OFF BEFORE YOU RUN INTO THE WALL.
I'M DOING MY PART WIN OR LOSE BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY LOSING.DRIVERS DO YOU HAVE TO BE HIT ON THE HEAD WITH A BAT TO KNOW IT HURTS.WELL WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE POOR HOUSE TO KNOW THIS INDUSTRY IS ROBBING US BLIND.TRUCKERS IN AMERICA STAND UP AND SHOW WE MEAN BUSINESS.(PARK UM,PARK UM,PARK UM)

Posted by
cartrell
on April 1, 2008 at 2:45 PM

My friend and I are truckers wives and we're behind you 100%. We plan to take our families April 2 and go to the truck stop in Howard City, MI with signs and hand out red ribbons to tie on cars to show support for change. We're tired of wondering how we're going to feed our kids and still pay the bills.

Posted by
jjgcc
on April 1, 2008 at 2:56 PM

Shoestring1,
What can us non-truckers support our Truckers? Donations? Are there local ways (I live in North Texas) we can support this protest? Any webs to go to and get more info?

Posted by
bill_fogarty
on April 1, 2008 at 3:12 PM

Well, so far so good, but more needs to be done. I would like to see more trucks off the road, or road blocking done!!!!!!! We need to support ourselves and stick together as one big family, and making sure each one of them trucks has a nice RED BOW on the drivers side mirror :)
Peaceeeeeee :) FLAT BROKE, winn maine.

Posted by
Patricia Pascale
on April 1, 2008 at 4:03 PM

Patricia, We can't have drivers blocking roadways that will give us negative publicity in the public eye. We need everyone that we can get to help us and stand behind us.
If a driver is gonna drive please stay in the right lane with flashers on and stay a couple above posted speed limits on Highways. People will see drivers doing this and we will get more support

Posted by
Wray
on April 1, 2008 at 4:15 PM

You know something that gets me is I have been hearing from so many drivers as of yesterday that they haven't heard about truck shut down.
Where has everyone been that didn't hear about this till yesterday???
My opinion: is the only ones that havent heard about this are the ones that don't want to shutdown, and they want everyone else to do the work as so they can benefit. Am I wrong in this train of thought?

Posted by
Wray
on April 1, 2008 at 4:21 PM

A few minutes about the strike on channel 11 News Houston, Tx. & A few minutes national coverage concerning congressional pressure (a little scolding to the CEOs of big oil companys) in D.C.. Blogs are hoppin'. Keep on sittin' it out. Don't get discouraged. It takes a few days for the effect to hit home. We're with ya'll 100%.

Posted by
Lambchops
on April 1, 2008 at 4:37 PM

All I keep hearing the media call this action is a "threat", well if enough of us follow through with the threat, it WILL make a difference. This can be achieved with out violence and blocking roads, SLOWING down major highways would be effective. I agree with Wray the public needs to be aware of the situation we are facing which will be more effective than shuting down cities across the country.

Drivers let me assure you we have just began to fight. i
have informed my Co that I'm off for a few days to support my fellow Owner/op's. They have offered me 6 different loads and called me 3 times asking me to run any of these loads.Drivers rest assure I'm still at home were I intend to stay.So don't tell yourself you can't afford to shutdown it takes doing what you know is right. Don't be controlled by your pocket for a short period of time be led by you mind and your heart.O/OP's this is not your first job and it 's not your first time in the trenches if your a true O/O so shutdown and unite with the truckers of america.If you don't fell it's worth it stop complaining about how bad it is on you. Thanks for all you guys who do believe in this struggle.

Posted by
cartrell
on April 1, 2008 at 5:17 PM

Glad to see New jersey truckers used their heads they had a slow down.A slow down all trucks haft to slow down and everybodys working.Good work Jersey you made national news and thats what its all about

Posted by
slyfox
on April 1, 2008 at 5:17 PM

My husband and I are two more "non-truckers" adding our support to you all! My brother-in-law is an owner/operator and I have heard the horror stories about what you all are going through. We live 5 miles from the White House in Northern VA and I hope you guys hit the US Capital Beltway tomorrow AM! That'll get their attention!

Posted by
Melissa
on April 1, 2008 at 5:20 PM

I am so impressed with this shutdown. I left the office today and got on the road to help and there was no one to talk to just a couple of company trucks on the road and they dont say much.THAT TELLS ME THIS IS A FLAT OUT KICK ASS SHUTDOWN!! I LOVE IT, DONT GET TIRED OF IT DRIVERS!!! WE NEED A STRAIGHT WEEK!! MONDAY TILL MONDAY!! THEN YOU WILL SEE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS AND POWERFULL ACTION.

Posted by
richard
on April 1, 2008 at 5:47 PM

Slow downs are working were making news The people have been wondering for months when the truckers were going to make a stand. keep up the good work goverment is starting to take note.Did you ever wonder what would happen if every trucker would Boycot the largest truck stop chain that sells the most diesel in this country and buy from the smaller competition.maybe after a week or so of no sales they might offer a free truck wash and $1 discount per gal.

Posted by
slyfox
on April 1, 2008 at 7:08 PM

I have sent the following message to everyone I know. Please copy & forward to everyone you know. Let's get America moving!
Fuel prices, as you know, are through the roof & we need to stand up as a country to get something done. Please forward this email to any small business owners you know & any Americans who care. Truckers (owner/operators) are planning a national "vacation" from May 1 to May 8. We would like all small business owners to take "vacation" as well. We would like all Americans to participate by not buying fuel (gas) that week. Come on folks, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Please support us on our "vacation" & sign up at the websites below. Fuel is not the only issue, but we need to start (unite) somewhere. Together we CAN make a difference. Please help us to get the word out. Thanks!
Join us at:
www.truckers4change.com &
www.trucker2trucker.com

I've been following this blog for about a week now and speeding up my preparedness efforts, warning my frinds and family and just trying to be ready for the results of this shutdown. I live in NW Montana and haven't heard anything about the truckers in our area participating. Is this just in the east or is it extending across the country and if I put a red ribbon on my mirror, will anyone here even have a clue what it means? I support you all and offer you my admiration and thanks for all you do, for all you sacrifice in order to bring all of us insatiable consumers everything we think we can't live without! You are the best and I hope for all our sakes that you can stick with it long enough to make a big difference.For what it's worth, I'm praying for you...

Posted by
Deb
on April 1, 2008 at 9:51 PM

I think you guys are ignorant. I mean I do understand your concerns and cause but to cause people to go hungry and possibly go without medicine that may have life or death consequences over fucking money is ignorant. I have family members that are truckers and I hope to GOD if this cause anyone to suffer a loss of a loved one then I hope it is yours!!

Posted by
Mike
on April 1, 2008 at 10:39 PM

YOU ARE BLIND, THIS IS WAR, YOU HAVE CASUALTIES IN WAR....
OK YOU WORK FOR NOTHING......MIKEY

Posted by
charles miller
on April 1, 2008 at 10:51 PM

Oh Shut up Mikey! Thats what compounding pharmacies are for. Comp Pharmacies are also small buisnesses, so you'll be spending your $ in your community. It's time to localize. Consider how many of your $ are being circulated back into your local economy. Spend local. This is just another way to bring about change. It don't take a dang economy expert to figure out that this is the most effective way to repair the economy. Owner Ops are small biz owners who live in your community and put $ back in to it. People have been dying since the beginning of time to defend thier freedoms. And furthermore nobody can afford to purchase medicine as it is because of the economic impact of big biz B. S.. I agree w/ a recent post on the 60 minutes site..."ummm....Ahem, I believe they are charging us too much for our tea. Oh and by the way, Mr.J Simon, you're goin' straight to hell in a handbasket....boy scout this, you little peckerwood!

Posted by
Lambchops
on April 2, 2008 at 1:23 AM

Non-Trucker here. I've been reading the posts and Im here to say that I am 150% behind ya'll on the shutdown.I understand what you truckers are trying to do for the Good of America and that's what you are doing if you look at it from the comsumers side of things too.
I wanted to pop in and let ya'll know that here in Cedar Rapids,Iowa the trucks have been few and far between if at all today, when it's usually buzzing with trucks running every day, but not today. Keep up the good work, maybe just maybe your "shutdown" will bring down the price of fuel for everyone, we can only hope! Been to the gas station and filled up tonight, been to the Grocery Store and stocked up on food, told my kids to do the same along with anyone that would listen that I seen in both businesses, told them that the truckers are on strike and supplies will become very short if the Truckers shutdown for to long. My way of getting the word out for you all!
Good Luck and Godsped !

Posted by
anita
on April 2, 2008 at 1:29 AM

WAKE UP & SMELL THE COFFEE. DID YOU CALL YOUR CONGRESS THIS MORNING? TAKE 5 & SEND THEM A LETTER TOO. They're not squirming yet. Walking is the best exersize you can do. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING ANY GAS UNTIL IT'S OVER. It's over when fuel prices drop to reasonable. If you want to show your support. That would be the most effective way to make an impact. A little sacrifice is good for the soul. We the American consumers control the market.

Posted by
Lambchops
on April 2, 2008 at 1:58 AM

wELL i just saw the posting from Mikey last night at 10:39
and Ihave to say what planet did he fly in from? He's talking about medicine and people going hungry. Well if he knew anything about the trucking industry he would know if we can't pay for the fuel and can't make money for our families.Doesn't that put us all in the same boat.Next time to take your little short trp to Wal-mart or your pharmacy to pick-up whatever remember at truck brought it to you and we have to able to afford to get it to you or do you think it comes by magic.If you knew what you were talking about you would be on board with us.(a little knowledge goes a long way)which obviously you lack.You won't run out of medicine or food unless you don't have a job.Better to remain silent than to speak and remove all dought. have someone explain what that means .

Posted by
cartrell
on April 2, 2008 at 4:24 AM

Good morning, X owner operator and fleet owner. Day 2, the battle continues. I was on the radio last night and it was very quiet. This will last one whole week at least idf not longer. This shutdown has been helped by the internet. I am so proud of AMERICAN TRUCKERS

Posted by
Richard
on April 2, 2008 at 5:34 AM

just to let everyone know trucks are still shut down at the Port of Tampa, Fl

Posted by
truckers wife
on April 2, 2008 at 5:41 AM

Keep it up folks.
Not a trucker, and I need your services, but.... I am behind you all the way.
My next door neighbor is shut down; he cant afford to run but cant afford to stay home (His wife is on chemo) YET they are in support and - like I said - shut down completely (he has two rigs).
Peace.

Posted by
mhegwood3
on April 2, 2008 at 5:48 AM

I lived in Tampa for 15 years, had 9 trucks and an office in the port. I also drove a Mack to help build the Tampa stadium running trailers to the crane. Wish I was there, around here everyone is at home, enjoy your time home boy's

Posted by
Richard
on April 2, 2008 at 6:07 AM

You all soldiers for a good cause.I know shutting down will hurt everyone at 1st.But IMO You drivers/owners are the only ones that can strike back and help make things in order for the long run.
The government has given the oil companies/banks/insurance companies,etc,etc the ability to take everything we have.They are sucking us Americans dry!
This is were the War on terror IS IMO!!!
You drivers /owners are the legs that hold America standing.You stop hauling,America stops Functioning!
YES it will hurt at 1st,BUT WHAT CHOICE DO WE ALL HAVE???!!!
Your doing the ONLY right thing you can do IMO.Good job!

Posted by
bucky
on April 2, 2008 at 7:17 AM

I will add.I am not a Trucker,But I believe my Grandfather who drove for nearly 50 years all across the country... Served this Country in WW2...And Also whent through hard times during the depression...
He would be proud of the guys who are willing to stand up to make a difference.
For better or worse YOU Can make the difference!!
I hope our failed government get there asses in gear,And put a stop to all the companies out there taking every last cent we have.
I fear we have very bad times ahead of us.Hold on tight everyone :(

Posted by
bucky
on April 2, 2008 at 7:26 AM

Well I'M still "SHUT DOWN" all so,woundering if anybody has heard more news about want's going on.

Posted by
JandB Trucking
on April 2, 2008 at 7:48 AM

Hi guys! Please keep up on this shut down! I'm wondering, the same as Deb, if we're gonna see anything out west? I'm a nite manager at a "travel plaza" in Idaho and I'm hearing alot of talk but I'm seeing alot of traffic. It's embarassing to me when your fuel bill is higher than my mortgage payment and it pisses me off when the pump shuts off at $980 because it just won't go any higher than that!!actually, it all just makes me mad. All the time, the J and the oil companies need not answer to anyone about the billion dollar profits they're making off YOUR blood! When trucks stop, America stops. Let's shut her down on this side of the Rockies too!

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 2, 2008 at 7:49 AM

YOUR NOT HEARING IT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO YET, GIVE IT A FEW DAYS AND YOUR GOING TO BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. AND THE GUYS OUT WEST?? THERE FUEL IS THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, THEY'LL FOLLOW. THE INTERNET HELPS, POST POST POST

Posted by
Richard
on April 2, 2008 at 7:57 AM

Please post a notice of the Freedom Rally to your drivers. This will be a event that can help get the attention of Congress and the Senate elected officials.. The complete information can be found at: www.freedomrally.info
We need the truckers to stand with us in this effort.
Thank you
Linda Hunnicutt
828-683-2009

WE'VE GOT TRUCKS IN THE PORT OF TAMPA THAT SAY THEY WILL STAY SHUT DOWN AS LONG AS IT TAKES.

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 2, 2008 at 8:06 AM

ya, richard. I see that on the company website. ID, CA, NY, NJ are the only ones over $4. I'm sorry, Linda. I can't post anything without losing my job but I'll check it out and keep it on the qt in pleasant conversation with the drivers. ;-) wink

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 2, 2008 at 8:14 AM

a joke and a comment:
how many drivers does it take to change a light bulb?
NONE!! they'd rather sit in the dark and bitch about it!
let's change the lightbulb, folks.

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 2, 2008 at 8:26 AM

I want to say "THANK YOU" and God Bless you truckers,
w/out You, the rest of us would starve.
I tried trucking for 8 months as a company driver,the pay was so bad I ended up in the negative each month, so I quit.
But you BadMouthers that keep blogging here,
remember this, w/out the truckers you don't buy food, you don't buy clothes, you don't buy medicine, you buy NOTHING!, therefore you HAVE nothing!, your family has NOTHING!!!
yea yea I know, you say,( the trucking companies will still be around).
that's true, and eventually,if the only trucks we have running are company owned, guess what you'll have?
you'll have trucking companies that are run like walmart is run, and treats it's employee's like walmart does!!
the time is NOW to stand up and DEMAND to be heard,from the oil exec's all the way up to the president!!!!!!
And the one's in the best position to do that are the truckers
God Bless all you truckers who sacrifice your family lives so that the rest of us may buy food,clothes,medicine,furniture,houses,cars,lawnmowers,entertainment.
I hope you get the point.
you have my TOTAL support, and my red ribbon will be on my driver mirror shortly.
Jamie

Posted by
j121361
on April 2, 2008 at 8:29 AM

I want to say "THANK YOU" and God Bless you truckers,
w/out You, the rest of us would starve.
I tried trucking for 8 months as a company driver,the pay was so bad I ended up in the negative each month, so I quit.
But you BadMouthers that keep blogging here,
remember this, w/out the truckers you don't buy food, you don't buy clothes, you don't buy medicine, you buy NOTHING!, therefore you HAVE nothing!, your family has NOTHING!!!
yea yea I know, you say,( the trucking companies will still be around).
that's true, and eventually,if the only trucks we have running are company owned, guess what you'll have?
you'll have trucking companies that are run like walmart is run, and treats it's employee's like walmart does!!
the time is NOW to stand up and DEMAND to be heard,from the oil exec's all the way up to the president!!!!!!
And the one's in the best position to do that are the truckers
God Bless all you truckers who sacrifice your family lives so that the rest of us may buy food,clothes,medicine,furniture,houses,cars,lawnmowers,entertainment.
I hope you get the point.
you have my TOTAL support, and my red ribbon will be on my driver mirror shortly.
Jamie

Posted by
j121361
on April 2, 2008 at 8:30 AM

red ribbon? guess I missed that or it would have been up already. thanks jamie

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 2, 2008 at 8:43 AM

RED RIBBON OR BOW ON DRIVER SIDE MIRROR TO SUPPORT THE SHUT DOWN

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 2, 2008 at 8:53 AM

looking for red ribbon and passing it on thanks wife

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 2, 2008 at 9:01 AM

The problem with making a strike effective is the same today as it was when I was driving 30 years ago (quit in 1982) & freight rates dropped so much I was making 2 cents/mile - lack of agreement & organization. What I proposed then would work now - IF enough would actually do it.
Pick a date in the future & until then, if you normally buy 3 cans of this @ the grocery, buy 4. Save your change in a jar & put another $5 on the phone bill. Scrounge up a few more bucks to add to the power bill - in short, over a period of several months, try to get where you could go without income for a month & not go into foreclosure, get the lights turned off, etc. - or even a week.
'Cause if even 1/2 the trucks in the country stopped on the same date, it wouldn't even take a week & if more than that stopped, in 2-3 days the economy would come to a screeching halt. Wouldn't have to do much "negotiating" 'cause the public would be screaming give the truckers what they want - we want our grocery stores, gas stations, etc. open again.
The general public has no idea how much moves by truck & small or isolated strikes don't make a big enough impact for them to think united drivers could actually shut the country down. But the power is there to do it - IF everybody would just plan ahead & put aside all the union vs. non-union, co. driver vs. independent BS to work together for once.

Posted by
art_njr
on April 2, 2008 at 9:13 AM

LET'S ALL PARK THE TRUCKS NOW , NOW ,NOW , TOMMOROW WILL BE TOO LATE, SOMEHOW WE'LL ONCE AGAIN GET BRAINWASHED INTO THINKING , EVERYTHING'S NICE AND FINE...TOMMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE. PARK IT NOW .

Posted by
GEORGE
on April 2, 2008 at 9:32 AM

get it organized and get it done. no more "frog in the pot of hot water" syndrome. just do it.

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 2, 2008 at 9:47 AM

Art_njr has made a very good point. We have been shut down all week but we really feel we are all alone. There NEEDS to be ORGANIZATION in order for this to work! If we follow his advice and also have a site for everyone to go to and sign that they COMMIT to shut down on a certain date we believe this could work. The way this is going this week we feel is not accomplishing much at all. I've just come back from driving around OH and haven't seen any signs of even a Slowdown here...The lightbulb joke is cute but also makes a very good point.

Posted by
Ohio Truckers Wife
on April 2, 2008 at 10:52 AM

You would need a representative or two from each major city, not all drivers are on the web, the reason it got this far is due to the internet. This would be a good start.

Posted by
richard
on April 2, 2008 at 11:06 AM

Having been a Owner operator for over 20+ years, I personally belive due to a number of reasons, which I will list. Prevents a so called Trucker strike not to work.
#1, Most owener operators are currently doing business and surviving a such a small margin that by not driving or taking the next load, would only cause more financial hardship, so, it's just unrealistic. Simply for the fact, that if you dont take that load, the next guy will.
2, There are too many company trucks on the road today, to still keep moving the loads, thus making any strike uneffective.
Our economy is based upon supply and demand, and as long as we keep moving the load, or someone does. The fuel get bought, and used.
My take on this whole thing is this. Other that just strike, which only hurts us in the short, and long run, beacuse we need to make a much as we can just to make ends meet. Keep driving, BUT, someone needs to single out a specific brand (shell, exxon, BP, TA) and stop buying from them for a month or two. If supply and demand really work, this would in effect create less demand, and more supply, thus causing them to lower their price at the pump, and if one supplier lowers their price, the others will follow just to stay competitive, and in business. Which is just what they are doing to us at the moment. Only it us who will have turned the tables this time. I really think this would work better, and more to our advantage. Im curious to see what everyone thinks about this idea.

Posted by
Jesse
on April 2, 2008 at 11:24 AM

Jesse-I think your idea is a good one but again the majority would need to follow thru to make it work. The O/O's are a breed of their own and all have their own ideas-so to all come together for the SAME GOAL is so hard. Maybe this week has been a good start but like most everyone else we cannot afford to just sit here forever and HOPE this works. We don't have that luxury. We're not even making the news today that we've seen. So we need IDEA'S AND PLANNING for the next round!! AND EVERYONE LISTEN UP!!! DON'T TAKE THAT CHEAP FREIGHT AND THEY WILL RAISE THE RATES.

Posted by
Ohio Truckers Wife
on April 2, 2008 at 12:00 PM

YOU BLOCKHEADS THIS SHUTDOWN IS ON GET WITH IT, WE HAVE MORE NEWS EVERYDAY, WE NEED MORE GUYS TO STAND UP! I CAN'T AFFORD TO SHUT DOWN, BUT ITS DO OR DIE TIME, YOU GUYS JUST STAY OUT THER AND DO NOTHING, YOUR GOING BROKE, YOU WILL FAIL, THE MORE FREIGHT FOR ME! MY EQUIPMENT IS CURRENT I HAVE ALITTLE BREATHING ROOM BUT NOT FOR LOMG...AT THIS RATE...I'LL BE SHUTDOWN TILL FRIDAY,THATS IT ,EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF...YOU WANT TO TRY THIS AGAIN LATER, I WON'T BE WITH YA..I'LL BE TRUCKING AND I WILL BE ANGRY AND DANGEROUS.....AMERICA IS STUCK ON STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by
charles miller
on April 2, 2008 at 12:03 PM

< My take on this whole thing is this. Other that just strike, which only hurts us in the short, and long run, beacuse we need to make a much as we can just to make ends meet. Keep driving, BUT, someone needs to single out a specific brand (shell, exxon, BP, TA) and stop buying from them for a month or two.>
That will not work & there are several reasons why, not the least of which is the vast majority of oil is controlled by companies owned by governments - the oil companies we're familiar with only make up about 9% of the market. And what drives the price @ the pump more than anything is speculation on Wall Street - what the traders THINK crude oil & end product will sell for in 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, etc. That's nothing but legalized gambling & the actual cost of pumping the crude out of the ground, refining it & getting it to market are not taken into consideration.
And since we haven't built any new storage or refinery facilities in the U.S. in 30 years, all the crude in the world doesn't do you much good 'cause there's noplace else to store it or refine it. So boycotting just one company would not drop the price a penny & if that company's refineries have to scale back due to less demand the price would actually go up because nobody else could pick up the slack - which they would if they could. Stop the gambling on Wall St. & get Congress to relax the regulations so more storage & refineries can be built & you'll address the main issues that can be addressed. Yes I know that so many are one missed payment from losing their truck, going into bankruptcy, etc. so they keep driving. But if y'all don't get it together that's going to happen anyway.
- Art

Posted by
art_njr
on April 2, 2008 at 12:09 PM

Boycotting the oil companies is not the way to get attention to the problem of the trucking industry. A national shut down of all trucks including fuel tankers is the only way to get the attention of the public. If John Q Public can't buy food or gasoline, the goverment will take notice and the Senate & House may finally see that opening up Alaska and off shore drilling will get America to use American oil instead of lining the pockets of the Mid-Eastern OPEC countries.

Posted by
Brenda Dobek
on April 2, 2008 at 1:03 PM

I bought a cb radio to put in my car for my trip across the east and I was wondering who that girl is that keeps whispering "I aint got no panties on" Fight the good fight drivers!!!

Posted by
jane doe
on April 2, 2008 at 1:29 PM

We have a rich Texas oilman in OUR whitehouse, lets pay a visit to washington drivers, they say april 15, I just hope the moron is in DC that day. I am sure you all heard his press conference the other week where he said he "wasn't aware that fuel prices were approaching 4.00 per gallon" google it, its a fact. I think it might be time to consider this Ron Paul.

Posted by
93pete
on April 2, 2008 at 2:34 PM

Well here goes, www.organizedowneroperators.com

Posted by
richard
on April 2, 2008 at 3:22 PM

hey, this is flatbroke again with just a little reminder:
I pledge alligence to the flag of the united states of America, and to the republic from which it stands, one nation under god, indivisable, with liberty and JUSTICE FOR ALL ***********************
Thats how the United States of America is suppose to work.
Flatbroke, winn maine

Posted by
Patricia Pascale
on April 2, 2008 at 4:19 PM

NEW INFORMATION--Senator Sherrod Brown of OH wants to hear from O/O's regarding how the fuel prices have affected them. He is very interested to hear from us. The phone number is 202-224-2315 9am-6pm.

Posted by
Ohio Truckers Wife
on April 2, 2008 at 4:26 PM

[Well the trucks are rolling here in Central Iowa, it was very slow yesterday but today it looked like business as usual. I was out on I-380 today seen a lot of trucks at the rest area out South of Cedar Rapids on my way to Solon, IA, but there were a lot of trucks rolling on down the Interstate too. On my way back to Cedar Rapids, I noticed about 20 or more 18-wheelers sitting at the Truck Stop, but some of the trucks at the rest area were gone.]
[I bought the Cedar Rapids Gazette today to see if the was an article on what you all were trying to do, I finally found it buried in the MONEY section on pg.7B, the sad thing it wasn't all that much of an article.]
[I would like to make a suggestion. (1) make flyers to take along with you when your driving your Trucks or cars so that you can place them in the Truck Stops and Rest Areas for Truckers to see and Consumers too. (2) in your flyers add that you want the consumers to understand that your not only doing this for yourselves and your families, that your doing it for the consumers too ( make them feel that everyone will benefit from your STRIKE ).]
[In the article it told about the 3 truckers that were side by side on the Interstate blocking the traffic flow, sure they got into trouble BUT it also became NEWS WORTHY, Im sure they pissed off a lot of 4-wheelers that were behind them but it also made people take notice of whats going on across the USA.] Im not suggesting that you truckers break the law or anything but you need to do something outragiuos like those three truckers did to get in the news and to get the State Officials and Gov't Officials to REALLY LISTEN, it's the ONLY WAY THE STATES AND GOV'T will know you mean business !!! ]
And to the Consumers that say they are with the Truckers on this, you need to do more than give lip-service, go put fliers up for the truckers, help them out, I'M GOING TO !]
[One more thing ,.... It's going to take more than 1 day or even 1 week to get your message across loud and clear , so hang tough & stand strong, don't give an inch to the oil companies cause they'll take a mile or more]
Good Luck and God Bless You !

Posted by
fancypants
on April 2, 2008 at 9:56 PM

one thing that i would like to comment about, is that yesterday i came back from the convoy in atlanta and on my way back to Jacksonville, I saw alot of o/Ops mainly from 1 company (Landstar). Everytime i talk to drivers leased to Landstar i hear a lot of complaints from their drivers but yet there is a shutdown and i saw at least 75 trucks coming out of the Fl-south GA areas. This is very puzzling. What made me notice this was never seen so many Landstar trucks in 1 day. Like almost every other truck was a Landstar. I was very disappointed in this

Posted by
Wray
on April 3, 2008 at 5:51 AM

JUST WANTED TO LET U KNOW U WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT GO TO UR LOCAL NEWS & PARK OUTSIDE. THATS WHAT SOME TRUCKS DID IN TAMPA. THEY SAT OUTSIDE FOX13 ALL DAY AND HAD SIGNS ON THERE TRUCKS AND WHERE BLOWING THEIR HORNS. THAT WILL GET THE ATTENTION

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 3, 2008 at 6:16 AM

i live in the midwest. i have seen nothing on tv or radio here. i am a trucker my self. i have only heard about it on the cb and road dog. i will put a red bow on mirror to show my suport.

Posted by
JEFF SMITH
on April 3, 2008 at 7:19 AM

It would be REALLY great if some of the big companies would get in on this us express, werner, jb hunt, interstate, that would take a few hundred thousand off the road and make an impact. I like the idea of trucks sitting outside local news stations too

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 3, 2008 at 8:02 AM

THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ANOTHER MEETING THIS SATURDAY AT THE TA AT EXIT 58 ON I-70 IN MO.

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 3, 2008 at 8:38 AM

CHECK THIS OUT
www.uscattlehaulers.com

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 3, 2008 at 8:42 AM

Yes go to uscattlhaulers.com and send Dan and email if you can make the meeting Saterday!

Posted by
allenxpress
on April 3, 2008 at 9:16 AM

I hope this srike/shutdown/slowdown does do some good. At the very least, it has brought a lot of attention to the crisis that is happening right now. The same crisis that nobody seems to want to address. I guess they are scared(the politicians) of tackeling an issue that actually means something. Maybe one day we will get someone in there that is willing to stand up for the people that put them in there to do just that. Till then, I guess it's up to the people themselves to accomplish what the highly paid paperweights cannot. United We Stand, Divided We Fall.

Posted by
Randy
on April 3, 2008 at 10:59 AM

I hope this srike/shutdown/slowdown does do some good. At the very least, it has brought a lot of attention to the crisis that is happening right now. The same crisis that nobody seems to want to address. I guess they are scared(the politicians) of tackeling an issue that actually means something. Maybe one day we will get someone in there that is willing to stand up for the people that put them in there to do just that. Till then, I guess it's up to the people themselves to accomplish what the highly paid paperweights cannot. United We Stand, Divided We Fall.

Posted by
randy
on April 3, 2008 at 11:03 AM

I stumbled across a site on the net I'd like to pass to everybody. Its www.ilu19.com/teamsters/team.htm. They say we can join the teamsters, I called the number on the site and got a buisness agents voicemail, When he calls me back I am gonna see what this is about. It says on the site that its 25.00 a month. This could be what we need. I know there are a lot of you out there that hate the union, but we need to look into this with an open mind. This could be something that could give us legitement representation. Check it out

Posted by
93pete
on April 3, 2008 at 11:45 AM

At least, it has brought attention and maybe we can poll off something bigger.
Maybe something like 100,000 or more trucks off the road for X# of days.
Or 200 trucks or more on the DC beltway (inner and outer lops)go 25 mph from 6am to 8pm.
I think we should do it July 4th through 11th. Call it "independents over high fuel prices"
Just a thought

Posted by
Kris Phillips
on April 3, 2008 at 12:25 PM

is the strike over? and if so it really wasn't long enough to do anything fuel prices are the same. so what is the next step if there is one?

Posted by
wondering
on April 3, 2008 at 2:06 PM

This is under construction and will be ready soon, free! YOU GUYS DONT NEED ANOTHER BILL www.organizedowneroperators.com

Posted by
Richard
on April 3, 2008 at 3:53 PM

I have a TV show if you want me to run a message on it let me know. It's a public access show, it won't cost you a cent. Send me the message and any graphics or a small clip (2-4 minutes) on an NTSC miniDV or NTSC DVD. I am a music show so understand that's the format.
I understand where your coming from, I also have a CB, and I am based in Sacramento. I am not going to tell you what the message should be or edit it (except to make it broadcast quality or look more appealing/pro) That's up to you guys and gals. My personal opinion is that if April 1st was the last protest, it's not enough. You need to get paid proper to seek a life of happiness. Otherwise none of us are going to be happy. I don't care if it's peak oil or what the hell cost it is, you need to get paid proper.
In closing, I only want to add, that many times I have been flamed for talking about electronic voting machines to you while you were on the road. Maybe now your starting to get it. I am not mad that you hated me, to the contrary I welcome the opportunity to try to help you. We are never going to restore our constitution and clean out the corruption if we divide ourselves. I am a veteran (USAF) and I have had my websites attacked plenty of times for speaking my mind. Although burned out, I am hardened from it. I don't need a zillion interviews or clips, just one official one. It does not have to be video it can be text. however video is more compelling. You can cuss or whatever (unlike the fascist commercial media alphabet channels) as long as it is NOT a call to arms.
It's all I can do.
I'm 10-8
~phil

Wray that would have taken me 3 hours to type. Look at all that money that was taken from drivers, unreal. I think richard has the right idea, but depending on how far this site goes, richard may come across some expenses and I think it should have a donation section. I have no problem giving a couple of bucks to resolve our situation. Good luck with this richard, I'll make sure the web address is visable on my trailer.

Posted by
93pete
on April 4, 2008 at 2:54 PM

I am glad to see we had some impact. I also think that we need to stay vigilant and may have to do this again before we get Washington's full attention.

Posted by
Kermit The Frog
on April 5, 2008 at 1:55 AM

Enough is Enough shutdown May 1st-8th. Spread the word far and wide. We need to get this to all the drivers we can. April 1st was great. April 2nd? Was not one word anywhere. What happened? The word died. Enough is Enough!

Posted by
shoestring1
on April 5, 2008 at 6:14 AM

Check out www.portruckrer.com, these guys are out of Savannah Ga. we all need to communicate and work together. The national news broadcasts don't want to cover this!

I'm with you guys all the way I'm not a truck driver but I have a GMC pickup with a duramax engine that I use to pull my 32 foot 5th wheel camper and diesel prices have gotten so out of control that there won't be near as much camping trips this season like in the past I can't afford to pull the camper I hope you guys let your trucks sit on May 1st for as long as it takes to get our government to wake up

Posted by
DURAMAX OWNER
on April 6, 2008 at 9:22 AM

Link for another story for the truckers. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Business/Headlines/bizBIZ01040608.htm

Posted by
Wray
on April 6, 2008 at 3:04 PM

This is my 2cents for sunday.Our goverment is made up and run by the oil companys all of them they all own stock in big oil.condaliza Rices family owns the worlds largest oil tanker lines.There making too much money to listen.Hit them where there hitting us ( in their pocket )Start by everyone boycoting just one of big oil companys in this country no sales no profit advertise which oil company to boycot and most consumers will go along with the boycot. this company after awhile will be afraid of a take over because lack of sales and they will lower their prices and the others will haft to follow to compete.This idea came to us from a high ranking retired army officer thats fed up also.I think this would work.

Posted by
slyfox
on April 6, 2008 at 7:06 PM

CHECK THIS OUT
www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6222965&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 7, 2008 at 7:22 AM

sly, with respect, I think you might be misinformed. In Boise, there is ONE fuel farm that fills ALL the tankers, so EVERY gas station gets their fuel from one place. The tanker drivers just add whatever additive is specific to their company (tecron or whatever) It doesn't matter if you single out one company, Flying J, for example. if you go down the road and buy from the Shell station, you're still buying the same fuel from the same BIG oil company. I think the trick is to buy NO fuel for x number of days.
The shut-down April 1 hasn't affected us out west but I've been stocking up on groceries. I'm hoping we'll see some impact in May. KEEP IT UP, guys!!!

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 7, 2008 at 7:23 AM

<< sly, with respect, I think you might be misinformed. In Boise, there is ONE fuel farm that fills ALL the tankers, so EVERY gas station gets their fuel from one place. The tanker drivers just add whatever additive is specific to their company (tecron or whatever) It doesn't matter if you single out one company ... >> Same deal in Charlotte, NC & just about anywhere else you care to name. And the local station & truckstops gross 7-10 cents/gallon, no matter what the pump price is. And the locals are told what to set their price @ BEFORE a price increase actually comes to the distribution center from the refineries which supply it. Singling out any given brand just hurts loe local business & does NOTHING to the big oil companies. And one key that MUST be understood is that there have been no new storage or refinery facilitices built in the U.S. for 30 years - oh, there's plenty of crude oil, but if you've got no place to store it & your refineries are running to capacity, all that crude doesn't do you a bit of good. And please understand this - it's not that the big oil companies

Posted by
art_njr
on April 7, 2008 at 9:34 AM

Sorry - a computer glitch caused the last message to be sent before I was done. Let me continue - it's not that the big oil companies WON'T spend some of their profits on new storage & refinery facilities, it's that they can't in a realistic timeframe, due to Gov't. regulations. The oil co. execs are right about this - if you set aside billions of $$$ to build new facilities & hire a whole army of lawyers to go thru all the red tape, it'd take you @ least 7 years to build new facilities. With available technology, you could do it in a year or so, as far as the actual physical construction goes - all the rest is federal regulations, a myriad of permits which the environmentalists will fight being issued, etc. And the oil companies know where a LOT of oil is in the good 'ol US of A - but they're not allowed to drill for it or pump it. I could go on & on about all this 'cause I do know it, but CONgress is the problem, not the oil companies. Anf the only way you're going to get CONgress' attention is by doing what I said in my 1st message - plan ahead, put the union vs. non-union, co. driver vs. independent BS aside & work together as a team. I spoke with another fella who has posted here before earlier today & come to find out he's a little broker about an hour & 1/2 away from me, working on putting up a website that doesn't sell anything. We agreed that the 2 most important factors are education & organization - you can't stop a group which has both.

Posted by
art_njr
on April 7, 2008 at 9:48 AM

A long with all the NEW government involvement that some are asking for, you might ask them to enforce some of the current regulations, specifically

In the FMC Safety Rgulations (Green Pocket Book) 391.15 sub part B, (2) it says.
(2)Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English Language.......

You can read the rest for yourself.
Now here something that is simple and doable.
Why are some jurisdictions reported to be allowing non English speaking applicants to have an interpreter help them with the test or giving the test in several languages?
Just something to think about.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 7, 2008 at 10:13 AM

The following is an excerpt from an Email that I sent to Mr. Richards on April 3rd. So far he has not responded.
Can someone please answer just the question,
WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT CHANGED AND WHO ARE YOU CURRENTLY TALKING TO IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THOSE CHANGES MADE WITH THE THE NEED FOR A SHUTDOWN?
I have seen some items put forth that some want changed, but
so far no one has answered the question as to who specifically can make the changes and the answer "The Government" is just to general, please be specific.

Sir my comments are meant to be positive so please take them that way.

Have you noticed how many web sites there already are attempting to "ORGANIZE" the independents? Now I know your intentions are good, but please tell me how you intend to get all of the others to move to your site and then your site becomes the "VOICE" of the independents?
I'm sure that you have read all the posts on t2t and noticed that there have been nearly 10 different dates thrown out for various shut downs, strikes and boycotts.
How in the world do you expect to get support for any of them when those of you who are proposing the events, cannot agree on a single starting and ending date?
Dan Little, uscattlehaulers.com is the only one that I have seen who put his real name, phone number, etc on his site so that the media and any interested politicians could contact him.
You will notice that Dan did get a lot of media attention, and coverage for his proposals.
Thank you for giving your email contact.

Please tell me how you plan to make your effort different and get support.

I'm willing to listen to a plan that makes sense.

I would also like to see the list of things you want to get changed and the names of the persons or departments that you will be talking to about the changes.

Now here is a suggestion. If you were to plan the next attempt to coincide with one of the major truck shows such as ” The Mid America Trucking Show” which was in Louisville, KY last weekend or the Dallas truck show the later part of August this year, you have a number of trucks shut down anyway and then your strikers could should down also.

I would guess that there were between 20,000 and 30,000 actual drivers who were shut down from a few days to all week for that the Louisville show. We do that every year and it makes absolutely no impact on the economy. We'll yes it does. Millions of Dollars are spent in the Louisville area that week on food, lodging and entertainment.

The Dallas show probably only gets 5,000 or so drivers.
Some one suggested July 4th week as the shut down. Many companies are shut down that week. The auto plants shut down in July for Model changeover.
Thank you for your time

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 7, 2008 at 10:29 AM

<< Can someone please answer just the question, WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT CHANGED ... >> Gov't. regulations which make it economically unfeasable to build more storage & refinery facilities & promote legalized gambling in "futures contracts" on Wall St. Those things are key factors in what drives pump prices. << AND WHO ARE YOU CURRENTLY TALKING TO IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THOSE CHANGES MADE WITH THE THE NEED FOR A SHUTDOWN? >> Drivers are the only ones to talk to, as Congress isn't going to pay any attention, except to make it look like they're concerned, for their own image benefit. Hate to be so blunt, but they don't anymore care about you than the dark side of the moon & only a united front will acomplish anything.

Posted by
art_njr
on April 7, 2008 at 3:15 PM

Thanks Art, Now we have two items to address.

Refineries and Futures Traders

I can agree that those are part of the problem.

I also can agree that the speculators and the Congress, really don't care about much but lining their own pockets.

Please explain exactly what the "UNITED FRONT" will accomplish and how the "UNITED FRONT" will accomplish the changes.

Are you talking about most all trucks shut down at the same time for an extended period of time?

Are you suggesting that we go to the Congress in mass as a UNITED GROUP to ask for changes?
Thanks

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 7, 2008 at 3:31 PM

i wish these feul priese whood go down ... you know what i mean..

Posted by
miss pete
on April 7, 2008 at 3:44 PM

<< Thanks Art, Now we have two items to address.
Refineries and Futures Traders
I can agree that those are part of the problem.
I also can agree that the speculators and the Congress, really don't care about much but lining their own pockets.
Please explain exactly what the "UNITED FRONT" will accomplish and how the "UNITED FRONT" will accomplish the changes.>>
Refer back to my 1st posts - lack of agreement & organization has always been the problem & I fully understand that it's nigh on impossible to get drivers who are running all over the country, union, non-union & independent to agree on much of anything. And although I sold out in 1982 (drove co. trucks, union & non-union too before then), I know what's going on out on the road now & it really isn't any different - O/O's are 1 missed payment away from going bankrupt & many co. drivers are too. You MUST plan ahead, pick a date y'all can agree on & save the change in your pocket until then. Get just a little bit ahead here & there - even if it's just paying $5 more on the electric bill @ home than the bill actually is & buying 4 cans of beans rather than 3. You MUST get into a position where you can go with NO income for a while - preferably a month, but even a week - then park it. If a small number of company drivers do that they'll just get fired - if a small number of independents do it they'll just go broke - y'all have to agree to do a shutdown as a team & not even walk out the front door to start your truck on a certain date. As I said, the general public has no idea how much moves by truck & when none are moving, the public will be screaming give the truckers what they want. And Congress will pay attention when the economy comes to a screeching halt. Can't be done? Oh yes it can - but not without planning ahead & co-operation between drivers.

Posted by
art_njr
on April 7, 2008 at 4:26 PM

Since no one has been able to tell me WHO they are talking in to about the changes that they want, I'm going to help you find the correct people.

I'm sure that everyone on here is a registered voter and voted in the past elections.

Here is a link to the OOIDA website that will give you the information on how to contact your Senators and Representatives and it also gives you guide lines on how to present your request.

I encourage you to read the link, prepare your requests in a professional and polite manner, and then contact the appropriate office.

The old "IF WE ALL STICK TOGETHER" applies, here. If EVERYONE calls their representative we might see some action.

I ask each of you to post the results of your contact with your elected officials on this site so that others can see the progress that you have made.

http://ooida.com/call_to_action/congcomm.htm

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 8, 2008 at 5:33 AM

There have been over 360 comments posted on this site alone. I've not counted, but I would expect that represents about 150 different people posting. So it would seem reasonable to expect to see over 100 responses posted here from the conversations the posters have had with their representatives.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 8, 2008 at 6:02 AM

What has OOIDA done for us lately??? We will be getting things done without them within the next month. Go to this website http://theamericandriver.com/home.html

Posted by
Wray
on April 8, 2008 at 6:35 AM

RANDOM STATE FUEL BOYCOTT HAS BEGUN!!!
The time is NOW!!! The random state fuel boycott HAS begun. Nationwide. Almost everyone can participate!!
Four states each week. For five weeks,.... 20 states total.
Starting Sunday through Saturday Midnight each week, do not buy fuel in the listed states:
April 6-12 IL, NJ, NM, UT
April 13-19 IN, NY, MS, NC
April 20-26 PA, VA, AR, GA
April 27- May 3 OH, SC, FL, IA
May 4-10 CT, AL, OR, CO
You CAN make a difference!!! Economics WILL get their attention.
If ONLY 100 trucks a day participated,... that’s 700 trucks a week at about 1000.00 (to fill up), that’s a little less than 3/4’s of a million dollars. That’s not counting sales beside those at the pump. Now take a guess how many trucks cross any given state per day, and if only a small percentage takes part, still a pretty LOUD statement!!! This is NOT to target any particular area, fuel chain, or specific truck stop.
We still live in a country of CHOICES, FREEDOMS, and CHANCES!!
PLEASE......PASS THE WORD!!! TALK IT UP ON THE CB!!!
THANK YOU AND BE SAFE
JUST ANOTHER DRIVER
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
SPREADING THE WORD

Posted by
sonny
on April 8, 2008 at 12:47 PM

I suggest we shoot for May 1ST for a protest. It won't matter where you are that day, get on the CB and find each other. Go to a state capitolin large groups, or a financial district. Do it early and make it tough on the roads. If there are some tank farms around then drive around that area and maybe the tank drivers will join in. The key to it is talk it up on the CB or on that dock while you waiting. Let other drivers know it's time to do something. If not now, then when! If not them then who? It's time to take some personal responsibility for ourselves. We're truckdrivers, owner operators, Fathers and Mothers who need to provide for our loved ones. STAND UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! We can't do it alone, but altogether we can!

Posted by
paul
on April 8, 2008 at 5:02 PM

<< The random state fuel boycott HAS begun. Nationwide. Almost everyone can participate!! Four states each week. For five weeks,.... 20 states total.>> Now that is a very interesting idea! I certainly remember trying to be near empty when I got to Arkansas when fuel was 93 cents/gallon & if you didn't have a fuel permit, all you needed to do was buy @ least 1 gallon of fuel for every 5 miles you drove in the State (dating myself aren't I?). Fill up & show the receipt @ the chicken coop if they asked for it. But going into Colorado, you'd get taxed on the estimated fuel in your tanks & had to pay extra if you got more in the State without a fuel permit - get an independent like me coming or going - maybe they still do it. But the point is States rely heavily on fuel taxes & if you substantially reduce the amount they take in, you will get their attention. But again, it won't matter if just a small number of drivers do it.
- Art

Posted by
art_njr
on April 8, 2008 at 5:23 PM

^^^Enough is Enough^^^Shutdown May 1st-8th. Regardless of all other talk, keep spreading the word. And Capt, as far as who we want to address, and what we want to change, it is simple for most to understand. You remind me of a college educated idiot. Great with a book, but no common sense. The High cost of energy has put our country into a resesion, not on the verge of one as some like to say. The biggest fear now, our economy is still heading down. Can you say DEPRESSION> look at the facts. Unemployment rising, homes being forclosed, and now banks failing. It is time to say ^^^Enough is Enough^^^. All of working american is suffering. Yes, contact any elected official you can. I have and only get generic responses, but I keep sending them emails anyway. Might actually get lucky and recieve a REAL response. It is an election year. Rather than follow party lines, or any other blind reason for backing a canidate, get the facts, AND VOTE<
Share info, pro or con, to help others. Bottom line, get active. I am but one voice, joined by many. WE will be heard. ^^^Enough is Enough^^^

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 8, 2008 at 11:00 PM

And sorry about the spelling, It's late, and I am tired

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 8, 2008 at 11:03 PM

Mr. Sonny, As I understand your suggestion, you are saying to continue to drive through the boycotted states, just not buy fuel in them. Is that correct?

Your point, as I take it, is that by not purchasing fuel in those states, the states will not collect the fuel tax. Is that correct?

Under the terms of my IFTA Tax agreement, truckers pay the fuel tax to the state based on the miles that they travel in the state and their fuel mileage, not on how many gallons that they purchase in each state.

So if I'm understanding you correctly, you are not reducing
the total amount of fuel consumed, only redirecting your purchases to different states.

So for an impact to be made on the specific states, truckers would need to drive around those states on the dates you suggest. That would add a great deal of time and fuel cost to each trip just to avoid paying fuel tax in the targeted states. I fail to see the benefit to that plan.

I have been accused more than once on this site of "not getting it!", and once again, I fail to see impact on fuel consumption, or tax collected by the states with your suggestion.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 9, 2008 at 7:01 AM

As I look through the posts Mr. Shoestring seems to be about the only one who keeps posting "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH SHUTDOWN MAY 1 - 8"

Lets see how much support there is for this 8 day shutdown.

Will everyone who is planning to shut down for 8 days May 1- 8, please post your plans on this site?
Please tell us what state you will be shutting down in.

How many of your trucks you will be parking.

Are you going fishing during that time, or carrying signs and flying banners to let the general public know what your doing?

Will you be attempting to meet with your elected officials during the shutdown to let them know what your problems are?
This information should be helpful to the Leader of the "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" movement so that he or she can start calling elected officials offices now and letting the officials staff know how big this shutdown is going to be.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 9, 2008 at 7:09 AM

What a JOKE...............

Posted by
charles miller
on April 9, 2008 at 4:35 PM

Hey Captain, I contacted my Senators and Reps. They'll get back to me...... You should spend less time picking apart the postings of others. Call some talk shows or write to some editors. Shut Down, May 1st! Stay out as long as you can. Keep it up everyone, we can make a difference.

Posted by
paul
on April 9, 2008 at 4:47 PM

do you guys know what i think? all this shutdown ain't going to do shit ! (sorry for a language) yes i am a O/O. what happened after april shutdown? did something changed? rates are the same fuel prices are the same? what did we achieved? nothing.. honestly while all O/O shutdown our trucks guess who is going to win ? big fleets. they'll pick up more businesses and will show their loyalty to their customers? NOW question? if big fleets won well then who lost? answer is .......... US (O/O) now use mind before you do something talk is cheap. if we do something make sure everyvody is stopped. otherwise all this is BS. that's what i think .

Posted by
Alex
on April 9, 2008 at 7:42 PM

The only reason the truck shutdown was effective in the 70's was because a driver run out of fuel in the middle of I-80 in Pennsylvania and left his truck in the lane. Others followed and transportation came to a screaming halt. When you cannot move because of a blocked Interstate, you have effectively created a shutdown. It makes no difference if you want to shutdown or not as you cannot go anywhere. This created a dominoe effect in all states and on all highways. I believe the drivers handle was "Rabbit Brown", but I could be wrong. If a masterplan is organized and well constructed it will work, and Washington will be forced to wake up and take notice as President Nixon was during this two week crisis. DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT. GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND DO IT AND WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

Posted by
Ralph Harris
on April 10, 2008 at 4:57 AM

Anybody here in a logging buisness??

Posted by
Mike
on April 10, 2008 at 7:26 AM

Well, Here we go again. ANOTHER shutdown date is trying to be put out for MAY 5th. Check out TruckersForum.net.
I got the boot off there web site when I questioned them about the confussion that they are starting by picking putting out another date. I can understand WHY there is not more support for a shutdown. To many dates being put out. Check the news, Enough is Enough has been used as THE slogan. Yet, some don't want to get onboard, but start there own thing. Darn shame. I would ask that some of you go there and post. We need one date, with no confussion about it. Until then, I think I am just going to sit back and watch how many OTHER dates come out.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 10, 2008 at 10:36 AM

to mike on april 10, we are in the logging business. why?

Posted by
patty pascale
on April 10, 2008 at 5:12 PM

Then those theiving wrecker driver's will have a field day. Last week one of my drivers was charged 1680.00 for one hours work, 2 guy's helping stack some lightweight panels and a wrecker sat on the side. The bastard said to him "I gave you a break" Then impounded his truck and charged him an overnight fee. As far as new sites are concerned everyone want's to sell something. This will be in the work's and should be up this weekend. www.organizedowneroperators.com. This is free and It's being done for my boy's on the road and everyone else. A date will be set, advertized and confirmed with plenty of time to prepare. ps. start preparing, save your money, and get ready for a 2 week vacation. 95% of owner opereator's havent had one in year's! Take advantage of it and make an IMPACT at the same time

ALEX, 90% OF TRUCK'S ON THE ROAD ARE OWNER OPERATOR'S. BIG COMPANY'S CANT TAKE UP THAT SLACK. I HAVE GOTTEN EMAIL'S FROM SWIFT OWNER OPERATORS THAT ARE IN AGREEMENT. IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE

Posted by
richard
on April 10, 2008 at 5:29 PM

a werner (company) driver told me that werner is taking 10-15 percent of their drivers off the road due to high fuel costs. Anybody else heard of a werner lay off?

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 11, 2008 at 9:13 AM

I've lost all faith in you guys, what a frinking waste! I've lost track of all the sites try to generate their own little empires.
We've got sites calling for this date or that, company drivers to join the o/o's, citizens to join in with this group or that group.. My God.....Does anybody understand the term F.U.B.A.R............
Don't you guys realize that with all the coverage, the protests here and there, the calls, Email's to D.C. ELEITS.... NOTHING has been done!
WHY, because this effort is half azzed, nothing will get accomplished till every O/O SHUTS DOWN..we don't need the big companies, the American citizens or anybody else!
We hold the power to accomplish this on our own..
I am impressed by the support of the non trucker folks, they are behind us, but they think WE can get attention to get lower fuel prices, well that's not going to happen, OPEC controls that....cut fuel taxes, get real that's not going to happen either....
The only thing that can happen and this is PRORITY ONE..GET THE BROKER/LOGISTIC COMPANIES BY THE BALLS!!
The f-ing rates and fuel surcharges are the problem...why is it everything we buy as consumers has gone up and its being blamed on high transportation cost...OK DO YOU GOT THAT....WHERES ALL THAT MONEY GOING....
SET ONE DATE ANNOUNCE IT ON ROADDOG, OR WHATEVER TRUCKER STATION, TAKE YOUR AZZES HOME, AND SET, DAN LITTLE, GET A SPOKES PERSON, AND DEMAND THE D.C. DUMB AZZES TO START INVESITAGATING THE RATES/FSC... NOW...YOU'LL SEE THIS $HIT CHANGE OVER NIGHT...All the other issues can be dealt with later....OR continue hauling the cheap freight for nothing, if you haven't gone broke yet, your on your way, times running out, its your choice....

Posted by
charles miller
on April 11, 2008 at 12:34 PM

To Charles,
Dont lose faith. As of right now that seem's to be all there is. I am running a number of owner op's and broker freight when they arent near what has to go. At night I drive a taxi so I know I'm giving away the money.
My driver's get 85% and that's why I'm still here. I have heard alot of horror stories from driver's with other company's. Flat out slaughter
The good broker's will give out the money. It's the customer that work's with 5 different brokers for the rate the customer is willing to move it for. Those brokers post 400 load's a day and if they move 5 of them they got paid that day. I know you already know this and I am as frustrated as you are. Thank's brother, Richard

ok guys here is the truth. Brokers do keep shit loaded money from our freight we haul.. evidence. today i started looking for a load and in the morning people were offering me $6500 CA-MA load. i told them BS. then after three hours rate went up to $7500. for same load. in the morning i told him that i want no less than $7500. and he told me he is making only $500 out of this load and can;t raise the rate. i told him if u change your mind call me back if you going to offer less then $7500 don't bother to call.. guess what happenedd? he calls me back after three hours later and he is telling me ( Fine load has got to move so F**** it llets book it at the rate you wanted) later on accidently he send me confirmation of shipper instead of my confirmation page. Guess how mmuch was shipper paying????????? any idea.. $8400. for my load i was going to haul. Now here if i would say yes for $6500 load he would make almost $2000 C'mon guys reefer O/O what the rates 2 weeks ago from northern California to north east? $5200-$5600? that's BS. they were making $3000 of the load we hauled by sitting in their ass. so now richard WHY ARE YOU TRYIING TO TELL US SOME KIND OF BS ABOUT BROKERS. WHEN BROKER TELLS YOU THAT HE IS ALREADY LOOSING MONEY OF THIS LOADAND PRICE AINT WORTH A SHIT, HE IS MAKING AT LEAST 15% of the amount right of the bet. so here is my thing for brokers when they offer BS price , GO AND FUCK YOUR SELF WITH YOUR LOAD. ii wish everybody else was like that then they wouldn't play bullshit games like that. let's stick together and don't take cheap loads tell them to go and F*** themselves with their load.

Posted by
alex
on April 11, 2008 at 6:22 PM

Ya know, It just burns my azz to hear stories like that. I SHUTDOWN Apr 01-05, thinking everybody was as desperate as I. Guess not, booked a nice easy load from home 20 Mich. to Santone, didnt pay great, but like I said I'm desperate, delivered on Wed. am, still setting in Santone (till Monday).
Loads coming out of here (200mi radius) going anywhere are paying just over a buck a mile, WHO IN THE "F" CAN AFFORD TO HAUL THIS SHIT, WHO IS HAULING THIS SHIT!
I called on I don't know how many loads same story, I ask what it pays, broker says xxox, I say I can't run that cheap, broker asks how much I need, I say well I need xoxo, he says sorry can't do that, I say OK see ya, never hear from him again and ya know that load is gone within the hour, if that long. So whats a guy to do, how long can I hold on, till who ever is hauling freight for nothing goes out of business and the brokers become the desperate one's. Only the GOOD LORD KNOWS

Posted by
charles miller
on April 11, 2008 at 9:48 PM

Charles - I hear ya!! Maybe the shutdown thing is going in the wrong direction or at least oughta adopt a focus on a minimum charge per mile. I wonder what would happen if the focus was on no loads carried for less than $2.50 per mile. Perhaps it could go in steps even. It's hard to believe loads are being carried for $1.50 or less per mile.

Posted by
george wilkins
on April 12, 2008 at 5:26 AM

Now here is your chance to stand united and make a difference

Dan & Barb Little and others are forming a new organization

"OWNER OPERATORS UNITED"

http://uscattlehaulers.com/strike.htm

Like any actual organization, they need money to operate the organization. So here is your chance to show how dedicated you are to the shut down movement. You can ask to be a state representative in your state if you like and get really involved.

Go to the website above and send them a check or money order for the largest amount that you can to show them that there is massive support for a new organization to represent truckers.

You do not have to be an owner operator to donate. They will accept money from anyone, company driver or the general public who support the cause.

It will be interesting to see how many of you from this site are going to "put your money where your mouth is".

At this point, I am not planning to send money or join the movement as I do not agree with most of what they are asking for. I do support their right to organize and ask for what ever they want. So if you agree with their agenda. SEND MONEY NOW!!!!!

I will be telling others about the new organization and encouraging them to look into it and see if it is asking for the changes that they desire and to join if it does.

I do wish them success in this venture.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 12, 2008 at 11:40 AM

ALEX, That was just one example. Click on my highlighted name at the bottom and see how sincere I am. I dont want anything from this site and I am paying for it myself. CHARLES MILLER,I was on the road and on the radio on tuesday and wednesday. This was a great effort because there was nobody on the radio and just a few company truck's going thru Charlotte. Hell I was doing 40 miles per hour trying to help and there were state troopers everywhere. They knew something was going on and it was, just not as much as we wanted. The next one should be planned 2 or three months ahead of time and give everyone time to prepare, bill's payed one month ahead and stuff like that. When's the last time you had 2 week's off! I havent seen that since I got in this business. click on richard at the bottom. thank's

Ok, Been gone and trying to get over my frustration with all the different dates being put out. B U T there is clearly been some changes. TheAmericanDriver.com, and TruckersForum.net are now pushing the May 1st date. Although they don't seem to want to use the Enough Is Enough slogan, they are atleast on the right date. 2 1/2 weeks to go people, spread the word Enough is Enough Shutdown May 1st-8th.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 13, 2008 at 1:31 PM

Give it up! You guys are looking like fools, you can't even agree on a date, let alone what the priorty issue is!
"Ya'll are stuck on stupid"....."GIT R DONE".....OMG..HELP!

Posted by
MISFIT
on April 13, 2008 at 1:48 PM

I think using the May 1 shutdown date is a good idea. But lets not start up again until mission is accomplished. Setting a finishing date for a shutdown is like telling the Big Boys just relax for a week and and we can steal again.........HOLD OUT UNTIL THE FINISH OR DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT STARTING..........

Posted by
Ralph Harris
on April 14, 2008 at 12:15 PM

When our presidential campaign season started there were roughly a dozen candidates in each party, each attempting to be that parties nominee. As time went on many of them realized that they did not have enough support to reach their goal. So they withdrew and then many of them put there support behind a candidate that had a better chance of winning.

I see that as being the same thing in the trucking business. Many have proposed various dates for shutdowns.
On April 9th, I asked all of those who supported the "Enough is Enough" May 1 -8 shut down to post their support on this site.
So far I can find no one who has answered the questions about how they support that movement.

Mr Shoestring still has not posted his contact information or told us what E o E is trying to accomplish.

Those that are following the attempts to get drivers to "All stick together" will have noticed that Dan Little and the OOU have the most support and the most media attention.

So Mr. Shoestring, how about joining the OOU. There is still time for you to become a state represenative from your state and maybe be elected to a board position. There you will have the opportunity to share your wishes for change with other like minded people and maybe accomplish something.

You can read more about the OOU at www.uscattlehaulers.com for now. OOU will have it's own website before long.

I had a long talk with Dan Little last night. He has shared a lot more about the goals of the OOU than have been printed so far, and now I do feel that the OOU does have a chance to get some changes made, but it will need the support both in time, effort, and money of many people to effect those changes.

So everyone come on over and join the OOU, NOW!!!!

Note: I'm always willing to change my mind when new information is presented that justifies the change. Mr. Shoestring might have been able to get my support, If he would have told us, in detail, what it is he is trying to accomplish.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on April 15, 2008 at 3:01 AM

Hi there all.
I am not a trucker-I am a homemaker.
I got a flyer about the "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH SHUTDOWN" at gas station/truck stop. I took the flyer home because I (like everyone else) am sick of high gas prices.
I went to the website listed: TRUCKERTOTRUCKER.COM-where I read the blog. I then came to this page and have tried to read *some* of the comments made.
The reason why I am writing on this blog is because I wanted to write about this on my blog for a local newspaper. I want to get the word out.
But I am seeing a problem. The flyer said that the shutdown would be from May 1-8th. I can not find 1 website that tells the average Jane Doe can got to find simple info on *how* and *when* to support your cause. If word gets out enough-it won't be just truckers shutting down-maybe people (who aren't truckers but do commute to work everyday) would try their best to not fill up that week.
I would definitely say that you have the American people's support on this one!!! Plus, without truckers-our country would shrivel away to nothing. The American public should give y'all a bit more respect....
Anyhow, back to the main question-where on the net-can I find a web page that tells the average Jane Doe *how* and *when* to support your cause. Something that is simple and straight to the point.

Posted by
Jenny
on April 15, 2008 at 6:06 AM

good point ralph, I'm not going to make a date but it should be at least two month's from now so we can get the bill's paid ahead of time. with out an end date

It's not just gas & diesel. Propane has increased by over a dollar in the past 2 months! I expect electricity next but in Idaho we use more hydro generated power than anything. I'm not seeing any red ribbons on driver side rearviews. Still doing that? Thanks for all you do, guys.

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 15, 2008 at 7:26 AM

HERE IS A GOOD WEB SITE FOR EVERYONE
www.theamericandriver.com

Posted by
TRUCKERS WIFE
on April 15, 2008 at 10:41 AM

I have added this sites link to my blog. Also any owner operators can click on a company that offers 85%. It beat's alot of other company's click on my name

The american driver site? at the bottom it says bring THEM home now. Why dont you ask THEM instead of making your own decision, Yea, you and congress. A democratic congress that fight each other and cant get a damn thing straight. THEM will never run. I know because I was one of THEM.

Well Capt, I am not the one starting the Enough is Enough shutdown, but was the one that came up with the slogan. It started the first week of March in San Antonio. Soon after, Dan little and others started there "Own Thing". Thus causing all the confusion about the April 1st shutdown. Many Many more would have particapated in the shutdown had there not been this confusion. Efforts for the Enough is Enough where slowed, in hope that one of these other dates would prevail. While it made news, it also showed light on the lack of unity. Now that april 1st has come and gone, Once again Enough is Enough was getting some effort put forward. And once again, you got others coming out with more dates. I have been banned off some sites for asking one simple question, why try a new date. Most are ready for a shutdown. But which one shall we observe? As long as you have someone savey on the computer and can start a web site, you can pick a date. Hell, lets just all argue while nothing is getting done. Seems like that is the way things are going.

Posted by
Shoestring1
on April 15, 2008 at 4:26 PM

There are a lot of good ideas out there. There are a lot of honest, hard working truckers out there too. Many sites are asking for a shutdown anywhere from 1 day to forever. What should we do, what group should we listen to? Many drivers are listening to the satellite radio shows and calling in voicing opinions on shutdowns and getting everyone riled up. The one problem to remember is that if you start an Association and call for shutdowns or strikes, you and the officers of that Association open yourselves up for legal action. The federal agencies can file charges against you and possibly subpoena you to DC. I'm not kidding, it's been done! That's why you have to keep it simple. Why can't we plan on the 1st of the month every month for now. Maybe each month add a day(May 1st & 2nd - June 1st, 2nd and third etc.) Each driver can call the local stations and inform them, or bug the crap out of them to listen and send someone out. Dan may end up being the one to speak for everyone someday, but right now the more voices the better. If we can cause chaos in the trucking industry, the powers that be will be looking for someone or some organization to take control of these out of control truckers.

Posted by
paul
on April 15, 2008 at 5:28 PM

YEAH, Shoestring is right, shit we BITCH about CONGRESS HELL WE AREN'T ANY BETTER.......LET'S GET THE SHIT TOGEATHER!

Posted by
MISFIT
on April 16, 2008 at 3:01 PM

Has everybody lost hope, as I!

Posted by
MISFIT
on April 18, 2008 at 2:52 PM

Has everybody lost hope, as I!

Posted by
MISFIT
on April 18, 2008 at 2:52 PM

Don't lose hope, catch your breath and try to make some money. May 1st is coming, there are lots of things going on then. Talk it up to each other, call into radio shows. Sirius is talking about it a lot. Keep it up till it culminates in a big protest. Maybe when the DOT has their 72 hour inpections would be a good time!

Posted by
paul
on April 18, 2008 at 5:23 PM

Get back to work you truckers! I had to eat stale bread yesterday, for shame!

Posted by
Dave
on April 21, 2008 at 11:47 AM

NEED A CONTACT NUMBER TO HELP ORGANIZE A REAL SHUT DOWN ON THE WEEK OF JULY 4TH FOR A NEW INDEPENDANCE DAY.
RICK SAMPSON, COOLVILLE OHIO
mdurstrn@windstream.net

Posted by
RICK SAMPSON
on April 21, 2008 at 6:06 PM

Oh NOW JULY 4th give it up!!!

Posted by
MISFIT
on April 21, 2008 at 7:34 PM

I am glad you are all pushing for a shutdown...you MUST! this is getting ridiculous...The only way to get the message to the fat cats, politicans, Americans in general, is to make a statement...SHUT DOWN ... not just once but regularily ... like every SUNDAY. The country needs to be awakened...IF this were the 60's, you would have turned off the keys by this time. It wasn't really money then, it was a revolt against everything revolting that was going on. As the Joker said in Batman One, "What this country needs is an enema" ... AMEN to that ... Bring corporate America, bring NAFTA to its perverbial knees, and do it SOON !!!

Posted by
denny west
on April 21, 2008 at 9:49 PM

NO, DAVE, shame on you!! Do you have any idea what these guys are spending JUST on fuel? try $16,000 a month. yes sixteen thousand dollars. that's just one truck. not to mention licensing fees, mechanics, toll gates, permits, and having to drive a 70 plus foot long rig through a maze of dumb 4-wheelers! PUT THAT ON YOUR STALE BREAD AND CHOKE ON IT.

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on April 22, 2008 at 7:10 AM

I haven't seen any mention of the truck convoy going from Harrisburg PA to Washington on the 28th of April , I saw it on the USCATTLEHAULERS web site . Are any of you aware , if not the itenary is posted on that site.

Posted by
Big Al
on April 23, 2008 at 1:11 PM

I think all these blowhards ran out of steam, can't find anything new anywhere....huh..typical

http://www.truckersforum.net/forum/f98/washington-dc-convoy-route-information-directions-included-2974/.....
This is the website for the 28th convoy. Good luck BigAl

Posted by
Shoestring
on April 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM

Heres a kick in our pants.diesel fuel in mexico is $2 a gallon.One US trucking company built a tank trailer of 150 gallons to pull in the back of a pickup to haul fuel back to the states for their trucking company.first trip went fine the second trip our border patrol would only let them haul 115 gallons in but thats better than nothing seen on CNN wensday.think about it who's controling the prices in the states? we all know who or they would have passed a law and took over or regulated the big oil companys for reasons of national security instead they gave them more tax breaks .hold on brothers it's going to get worse were only going in the tunnel.

Posted by
slyfox
on April 24, 2008 at 5:57 AM

why go broke making $$$ for carriers/brokers , i can save money staying home SHUTDOWN NOW

Posted by
john
on April 24, 2008 at 6:26 AM

How funny THIS is, to hear about a STRIKE. I've noticed over my many years, that you can't get two drives to agree on little things like the weather, let alone to agree about a Nationwide strike.
If we all have the "Stones" to strike, I will join in. Otherwise we will fail, and if the Mexican trucks, Canadian trucks, and the company drivers continue to operate we will achieve NOTHING.
We will soon see what happens, only a few days remain.
If we all have the "stones" or intestinal fortitude to strike, then let's do it.
We can make the difference.
Texasbushwacker

Posted by
texasbushwacker
on April 24, 2008 at 9:55 AM

It only takes 3 trucks to start a shutdown. one jackknifed in the left lane, one in the middle lane, and one jackknifed in the right lane. Just like 1974. WHO HAS THE BALLS TO DO IT. All the trucks backed up in the mess could chip in and pay the fines for the first 3 trucks. The rest will get no tickets because they are not at fault. They can not go anywhere anyway...........WHO HAS THE BALLS TO START. A few situations like this and The Washington Bullshiters would get off the pot and do something.

Posted by
Ralph Harris
on April 25, 2008 at 4:19 AM

truckers up here in maine are heading to washington at 6am tomarrow morning. anyone looking to join in needs to be in washington at 10am monday morning the 28th of april. we need all the trucks we can get. pass the word out to anyone you know asap

Posted by
Patricia Pascale
on April 26, 2008 at 7:11 PM

May 1st to 8 everybody no more work no more trucks dont drive your truck please support the strike we have to stop now.not for one day but 8 days be ready.thank you.

Posted by
eduardo
on April 28, 2008 at 8:16 PM

is it on for may 1 thur 8 or not

Posted by
john
on April 29, 2008 at 6:47 AM

We are ready for the shutdown, when is it really going to happen? We will be watching your website, I live in Ontario, Canada.

Posted by
David
on April 29, 2008 at 5:10 PM

OK PEOPLE, Let's try this one more time, although I'm not at home enjoying time off, I'm here in lovely OKC, I'll give it one day to see what happens on the 2nd If it looks like another faliure I'll be gone Trucking....

Gordon trucking has laid off 1/3 of their drivers (100/300 trucks to my understanding) Wener has cut back about 15%---i'm not even gonna guess how many trucks that is. Diesel was at $4.17 when I left work this morning and I took a check for over $2400 to top off 3 trucks for the same company. AND the pumps are shutting off at $980 cuz they just won't go any higher WAY more than they ever have before.
Are you guys gonna do it this time? PLEASE?

Posted by
luvmydrivers
on May 1, 2008 at 8:37 AM

STILL PARKED

Posted by
john
on May 2, 2008 at 3:35 AM

here it is straight a us dollar is worth 63 cents on the world market.a $100 barrel of oil costs us $137.How did we get in this mess ?Oil company ya but our money is the cheapest in the world The trucks are coming off the road we need no strike we can't aford to run anymore.shortages are showing up at walmart their trucks are 6 days behind the o/o that were pulling their trailers quit.got any extra money buy food stock up don't wait if you do they may double over night like diesel did this country is no more.people we put in office are having the time of their life at our exspence they don't care there there and were here.

Posted by
slyfox
on May 8, 2008 at 9:22 PM

THE PROBLEM HERE IS G.W.BUSH,HE IS LEAVING OFFICE AND HE IS GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING HE CAN WITH HIM,OIL SKY ROCKETS,HE OWNS OIL WELLS,HE IS GOING TO MAKE SURE HE IS SET FOR LIFE BY THE END OF 2008,AT EVERYONE ELSES EXPENSE,SHUT ALL TRUCKS DOWN,SCHIENDER,J.B.HUNT,SWIFT,HEARTLAND,BARR-NUNN,ANYONE WHO OWNS A TRUCK,AS I SPEAK,IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD,TAKE YOUR TRUCK HOME OR TO HITS TERMINAL AND JUST STOP,WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THEM,THEY WILL BE COMING TO US,ONCE WE STOP,AMREICA WILL STOP,WE WON'T BE THE ONLY ONES OUT OF WORK,WHEN TRUCKS STOP,AMERICA STOPS,AND WHAT WE WANT IS TO ELIMINATE BROKERS,WE DON'T NEED A MIDDLE MAN TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF ARE POCKETS OR THE SHIPPERS,WE DEMAND CHEAPER FUEL PRICES,JUST QUIT TRYING TO SCREW US OVER,SIGN A CONTRACT THAT WHAT WE AGREE ON IS GOOD FOR 10 YRS.OR WE ALL WILL STAY PARKED,THESE COMPANIES CAN MAKE THINGS,BUT IF IT STAYS AT THERE WAREHOUSE THEY CAN'T SURVIVE,WHAT WE ARE NOT REALIZING HERE IS,THEY NEED US AS BAD AS WE NEED THEM,BELIEVE ME IF WE ALL STAY PARKED,IT WON'T JUST BE THE TRUCKERS OUT OF WORK,THEY WILL BE GOING DOWN WITH US,MAIN THANG, STOP YOUR TRUCKS NOW,NO ONE ROLL A WHEEL,AND I'LL BET WE GET RESULTS THEN.

Mr.Dockflash, didn't you get shoestrings memo? The big shut down was from May 1 - 8th and now on the 9th your calling for shutdown?????????
>BR>
I'm waiting for shoestring to post the results of his shut down.
How many trucks were shut down and where were they shut down.
I'm waiting to hear what shoestring feels was accomplished by his shut down. I still find plenty of food on the grocery store shelves and fuel prices, just in case no one noticed are much higher today (May 13) than they were on May 1st when the shutdown started.

Posted by
Capt Klutterbuck
on May 13, 2008 at 10:34 AM

I shut down for 4 days in April. I got about 10 drivers total to shut down together out of 25. We got a 3% rise in our surcharge for fuel. Thats it. Out of 3 terminals we all cost our manager 45k in lost revenue. Now the company is trying to threaten to fire us if we dont run when DOT comes in the Port of Wilmington. We our the company. It is our rigs. Im in buisness for me, not them. I choose whats best and most profit for me to stay in buisness. Its fair to say to take some bad with the good, I say why take any bad period. Dont bid on the freight if you know it wont pay . Then they try to make us haul it. They put the crap on themselves. Always promising a good run behind it. Its Bull%$#t! All of it. Right to work States give no power to any O/O. I say,park dont be afraid to park your rig for a day or two if you need to. Dont settle for less. Their is a shortage of drivers willing to run at $4.65 a gallon. We have the power. All they have is crappy freight on a desk with no equipment to pull it with. Do the math before you commit to the load. How much, how far, how many hours, Fuel surcharge and back or front haul. Then make an educated dision. Why pull 7 hours for $100 when you can take the shorty for that and be home by 12noon for the same . The fuel just spiked .45cents in the last 2 weeks. We need at a min. 50% fuel surcharge just to stay in buisness. At 42% we are treading water about to go under. And if we didnt own our rigs we would be out of buisness in a hurry. In debt, credit shot, without a house or family . Locked up for past or late child support. Dispatchers dont care either. most get paid on commission. They are going broke as well. Good , maybe itis time for them to go without. We have been doing it for years.

Posted by
Telesco
on May 26, 2008 at 11:39 PM

The last time there was to be a "shut down" of trucks, it never happened because drivers were threatened to lose their jobs. The only trucks that did shut down were the Canadians drivers, they didn't come in to the U.S., that was their way of supporting it. I've been a driver for 15 years now, that's longer than some and shorter than most, but the onl way you're going to get a trucker shut down is to get all the drivers to agree to do it and with myexperience you can't get drivers to agree on anything except that they disagree. Don't get me wrong I'm all for a shutdown to get the countries attention that without us the country basically stops.

Posted by
Mr. Ed
on May 29, 2008 at 11:41 PM

Being in a delivery based business, and having scores of truckers as life long friends, I can relate on all fronts.
IMHO
Shutdowns, Rallys and slowdowns should be coordinated with every major market in the US simultaneously to achieve maximum publicity and effect.
Support from the all union brothers and sisters, not just trucking, should be requested.
Everyone talks about NYC/Manhattan as a great place to paralyze but Long Island is also a prime candidate as I 495 is the connection to all points from the city to the tip of Long Island.
Again, just IMHO.

To all the truckers out there: You are the backbone of the economy. With the soaring gas prices I am amazed that you are still running. I propose that you do shutdown, not just quitely at home but on all the major freeways across the U.S. If you stop side by side in the middle of the freeway/highway what have you the world will take notice. All of us here in Oregon support this dramatic stop and will even be out there with food and drinks when you stop here in Oregon! WE SUPPORT YOU! We are with you and will be there right along side of you.

Posted by
stilts
on June 2, 2008 at 3:17 PM

I was working the eastern seaboard the last time the truckers worked together and shut down the US for 3 days. I believe that it was in '84. It was needed then and it is needed now. There is no shortage of oil, this is a fact as stated by Shell CEO last week. It is gouging at it's greatest. The continuing rise in fuel costs will shut down the nation anyway if the driver don't get enough guts to do something, and I mean NOW. Shut er down gents...Shut er down... For at least 4 days. Hell you're loosing money every day. Save some money and shut er down...You have nothing to loose except your trucks if you don't.

Posted by
Gord
on June 11, 2008 at 5:05 PM

I've been hearing truck driver saying the same thing for years, go on strike, such down the highways, quit driving forever. The fact is truck driver cannot do anything. Oil companies, and governments, and lobbyists have you and you don't mean nothing to them.
The way I see it is this, The United States, and Canada started their organization by setting rules. These rules eventually became laws. Then these laws became the biggest thing ever, a constitution. SO! When a small country of three hundred thousand truck drivers want to create a country, what do they do? They organize, and the only way to organize is what all of us have in common. A Class 1 or A or D License through the DOT, or the MTO in Canada. This is the start. Organizing a supported Constitutional Committee is the hard part, and I do not mean Union. They are just as corrupt as any other. I'm thinking in the lines of a self contributing pension funds management organization which we will all be investors. Every Licensed driver can afford $50.00 times 300000 driver, if my math is correct, can raise $15 million to start. Mandatory to those who hold a Class A License. Control starts at the bottom.
What do you all think?
Myron K, Canada